Local Government Elections 2012 Under item 2 we will consider reports from the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Management Board for Scotland on the 2012 Scottish local government elections.I welcome John McCormick, electoral commissioner for Scotland, and Andy O’Neill, head of office Scotland, Electoral Commission; Mary Pitcaithly, chair, Chris Highcock, secretary, and Brian Byrne, Electoral Management Board for Scotland; and Dr Alistair Clark, lecturer in politics, University of Newcastle.I ask John McCormick and Mary Pitcaithly to make some opening remarks.