Chamber and committees

The next item is for the committee to continue to take evidence on petition PE1817, which seeks to end conversion therapy. Today we are hearing from organisations that have raised concerns about the petition. I welcome to the meeting Peter Lynas, who is the UK director of the Evangelical Alliance, and Dr John Greenall, who is associate chief executive officer of the Christian Medical Fellowship, both of whom are joining us virtually. I also welcome Piers Shepherd, who is senior researcher at the Family Education Trust, and Anthony Horan, who is the director of the Catholic parliamentary office of the Bishops Conference of Scotland, both of whom join us in the meeting room today. You are all welcome.

I refer members to papers 2, 3, 4 and 5, and invite each of our witnesses to make a short opening statement, starting with Piers Shepherd.

Are you able to help us with what that might look like?

Can I just probe a tiny bit into some of what you have said in relation to whether a practice is trying to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity? If a ban came into place on the attempt to change a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation and that was the extent of what was prohibited, would you be generally comfortable with that?

We have certainly heard evidence from people who have said that that happened to them—they consented in theory to something that they now realise was torture. Peter Lynas wants to come in on that question before Pam Duncan-Glancy comes back in.

I think that Peter Lynas does.

Peter Lynas has indicated that he would like to speak. We do not have to hear from everybody on every question, but the witnesses can indicate if they want to respond.

On the subject of legal language, I note that this Parliament struggled with the issues around consent when we looked at legislating on domestic abuse, and we came to a slightly different and more finessed answer.

Does Piers or Anthony want to respond to Fulton’s question?

Anthony Horan wants to come back in.

Dr Jones, would you like to come in?

Thank you both for your opening statements. I apologise for the fact that, because of my bad convening, we are running over time, but the evidence that we have been hearing has been quite extensive.

The first question is from Pam Gosal.