Chamber and committees

In the evidence earlier, we heard about adverse weather conditions and the lack of workforce in the construction industry. Will that have an impact on the 2035 completion date for the A9? Are those factors being built in?

Thank you.

When the committee makes inquiries and takes evidence, we do so to benefit the aims of the petition. I found the statement that Edward Mountain made earlier about the ability of Transport Scotland not helpful at all. It does not help our cause at all when members of the committee make such statements.

I would like to close the petition under rule 15.7 of the standing orders on the basis that the Justice Committee stage 1 report on the Children (Scotland) Bill stated that it was not persuaded by the presumption in favour of shared parenting, as that could cut across a key principle of the welfare of children being the paramount consideration, and that the Scottish Government agrees with the Justice Committee’s comment on shared parenting. In addition, the Scottish Government works to promote parenting agreements through “Your Parenting Plan”, and work is on-going to resolve family and civil partnership cases more quickly. Furthermore, once fully commenced, the Children (Scotland) 2020 will require the court

“to have regard to any risk of prejudice to the child’s welfare that delay in proceedings would pose.”

I am waving them in agreement with you, convener.

Good morning to the panel members. How can the twin pressures of increased pay and demands for additional staff be balanced in the NHS and in social care within the constraints of the budgets?

On higher NHS pay, what effect will that have on service delivery if non-staff budgets need to be reduced to fund the increased pay offer?

What effect might the increase in NHS pay have on service delivery if non-staff budgets need to be reduced to fund the increased pay offer?

Some of you have touched on workforce recruitment and retention issues already, and I have a question for Jaki Lambert. What particular challenges do nursing and midwifery staff who work in remote and rural areas face?

My next question is to Michael Dickson; I am conscious of time. What are the additional challenges for ambulance and urgent care staff who work in areas where long distances between services are the norm?