Dumbarton castle does not receive even a tenth of the money that goes to Edinburgh castle or Stirling castle. Scaffolding has been up for years, the castle is sometimes closed for no apparent reason, and its collection is scattered to other castles across Scotland.

The castle’s importance in Scottish history is not in any doubt: it has been home to kings and queens, including James IV of Scotland and Mary Queen of Scots, and it has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland. However, there is not a single mention of Dumbarton castle in the Historic Environment Scotland annual report for 2023-24.

What will the cabinet secretary do to ensure that Dumbarton castle is restored to its former glory? I wonder whether I could invite him to come on a visit.