Speeches by Carmichael.

“In your view, is there any reason you could not have access to these same borrowing powers and guarantees, other than the fact that nobody thought about it when they were drafting the Act? Ronan O’Hara: The Act was specific for particular jurisdictions. I suppose this is more to do with the treatment of moneys evolving…”

“The Act is about guarantees for borrowing as well, is it not? Ronan O’Hara: It is, yes.”

“On the relationship with the UK Government, we now have a situation, after the Crown Estate Act has passed, where your colleagues south of the border have access to Treasury guarantees but you as Crown Estate Scotland will not. The Treasury is a UK-wide authority. Is that going to put you at some disadvantage? Ronan O’…”

“Good luck with that.”

“At the end of the day, nobody will get everything that they want, but we have to make sure that everybody feels they have had a fair crack of the whip.”

“You will be aware of how it worked for them.”

“Indeed, we all know that. Look, I am sure the trawlermen of Cambridge will be well represented by Minister Zeichner, but what message should you take from the experience of the SNP-Green coalition in Holyrood and its efforts to introduce HPMAs?”

“The Crown Estate will tell you that their priority is to maximise economic benefit to the Treasury, so it is not necessarily about fishing any more, is it?”

“He is a wonderful Minister, but he is not a fisherman.”

“What do you anticipate will be the net effect on fishing opportunity once you make these designations?”

“Yes, new HPMAs.”

“Minister Hardy, when do you envisage bringing forward proposals for HPMAs?”

“I am sure we all do.”

“Can you quantify that impact?”

“Minister Hardy, what has been the net impact on fishing opportunity as a consequence of the changes to the MPA designations that you have been describing?”

“You will follow it up for the benefit of this Committee in correspondence.”

“But you are not in a position to offer me one? Ronan O’Hara: Not right now. I am happy to come back to you on that point.”

“Have you ever heard of another auction with a cap on the bids? I have heard of plenty with floors. Ronan O’Hara: Yes. I am sure they are out there.”

“Do you think those should have been decisions for the bidders themselves? Ronan O’Hara: We assessed the market, took evidence and made a decision.”

“Why did you put a cap on the amount that could be bid? Surely the whole point of a commercial auction is that the commercial players make the decision on what they can afford themselves. Ronan O’Hara: Part of the rationale was again balancing social, economic and environmental considerations. The actual design of the l…”