Minutes: 21 May 2024

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 7, 8, 9 and 11 in private.

2. Healthcare in remote and rural areas:

The Committee took evidence from—

Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care,  and Stephen Lea-Ross, Deputy Director of Health Workforce Planning and Development, Scottish Government;

Paula Speirs, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland.

Clare Haughey declared an interest as holding a bank nurse contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Sandesh Gulhane declared an interest as a practising NHS GP.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (Independent Health Care) Modification Order 2024 [draft] and the Healthcare Improvement Scotland (Inspections) Amendment Regulations 2024 [draft] from—

Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Scottish Government.

Sandesh Gulhane declared an interest as a practising NHS GP.

4. Subordinate legislation:

Neil Gray (Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care) moved—

S6M-13020—That the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee recommends that the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (Independent Health Care) Modification Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

S6M-13021—That the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee recommends that the Healthcare Improvement Scotland (Inspections) Amendment Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

After debate, the motions were agreed to.

5. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (Fees) Regulations 2024: SSI 2024/130

The Committee agreed to make no recommendation in relation to the instrument.

6. Tobacco and Vapes Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee took evidence on legislative consent memorandum LCM-S6-44 from—

John Dunne, Director General, UK Vaping Industry Association;

Dr Pete Cheema OBE, Chief Executive, Scottish Grocers Federation;

and then from—

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive, ASH Scotland;

Dr Garth Reid, Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Scotland.

Sandesh Gulhane declared an interest as a practising NHS GP.

Emma Harper declared an interest as a registered nurse and as Co-Convener of the CPPG on Lung Health.

7. Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill (in private):

The Committee considered its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.

The Committee agreed to issue a call for written evidence on the Bill, and to consider the draft Stage 1 report on the Bill in private.

8. Subordinate legislation (in private):

The Committee considered a draft report on the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (Independent Health Care) Modification Order 2024 [draft] and the Healthcare Improvement Scotland (Inspections) Amendment Regulations 2024 [draft].

The Committee agreed to consider an updated draft via correspondence.

9. Annual report (in private):

The Committee considered and agreed a draft annual report for the parliamentary year from 13 May 2023 to 12 May 2024.

10. Healthcare in remote and rural areas (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

11. Tobacco and Vapes Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 6.