Chamber and committees

I wonder whether we could write to the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, Citizens Advice Scotland, Patient Advice and Support Service and Shelter Scotland, seeking their views on the action that is called for in the petition.

Given the submissions from Food Standards Scotland, Dairy UK and the NFUS, I suggest that we close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders.

I thank the petitioner for lodging the petition, but I do not think that we can take it any further. I suggest that we close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the Scottish Government does not make policy decisions on school clothing-related matters at a national level, the Scottish Government does not currently have any plans to update the learning estate strategy and COSLA has previously indicated that local government considers the design and delivery of policy around wearing of PE kit and options for changing sites are issues that are dealt with most appropriately at school level.

As someone who has taken an interest in the petition, particularly because of my background in ancient woodlands, I would like to see it continue. I would like us to write to the cabinet secretary to find out when the register of ancient woodlands will be completed. If the committee agrees, I would also like us to write to the Scottish Government to highlight the petitioners’ latest submission and seek an update on whether it expects the forthcoming natural environment bill to include further provisions to protect ancient woodlands.

I agree that we should write to the National Trust for Scotland, the St Kilda Soay sheep research project and OneKind, and also to NatureScot, to seek their views on what the petition calls for.

I suggest that the committee agree to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the issues raised by the petition are within the scope of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, which is currently being considered by the Parliament. However, in closing the petition, the committee might write to the petitioner to highlight an opportunity to submit her views as part of a call for views on the proposals in the bill. The call for views is now open and closes on 8 September.

My colleague Emma Harper touched earlier on evidence that the committee has heard that, in rural areas, even if jobs can be filled, housing is a real problem. Have you ever thought about working in partnership with local authorities to build specific affordable housing for NHS staff or thought about giving money to NHS boards to build their own accommodation?

There is a vacancy rate of around 7 per cent for medical and dental consultants in NHS Scotland and I know that it is really difficult to get an NHS dentist in my area. How are we going to recruit to fill shortages in specialised positions within the NHS?

Thank you.

Thank you for that, Mr Shanks. You said that you are looking to review the system. Is the current model of service sustainable?