Chamber and committees

Given everything that you have talked about around participation and getting women into sport, how much of a role do social media play in stopping them?

There is a reason that I highlight that. For example, we might think about the rise in women’s football. Every image that we see on social media such as TikTok, which every young woman uses, is not the kind of image that you are talking just now about portraying in order to encourage women into sport. I could name one Aston Villa player who is always on TikTok, and even the equipment that these players are wearing, such as £250 Predator football boots, are things that young girls in areas of deprivation are simply not able to afford. How much do social media play a role in discouraging women from going into sport?

I suggest that we write to the Minister for Transport to seek an update on when the Scottish Government expects to announce a preferred route option for a permanent solution.

I wonder whether we can write to the Minister for Transport to ask whether he will do a full STAG report on the second option and raise the concerns of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority about the road design of Transport Scotland’s preferred option. Could we also seek an update on the anticipated timetable for publishing the draft orders and associated environmental impact assessment report, including plans for the public consultation?

If we are going to visit Loch Lomond, we will be just as well to go up the road a wee bit to the Rest and be Thankful to see Jackie Baillie’s other area.

When we have 470,000 people on universal credit, what the petition is asking is impossible for local authorities across Scotland to do. I know that Fife Council normally has 1,000 people waiting for allotments who are willing to hire them. It is a very difficult situation. I am quite happy to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the provision of allotments is primarily the responsibility of local authorities.

Dr Adeley, earlier you talked about training of pathologists and using radiologists.

As the convener has already said, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has identified skills shortages within its workforce. Was there any need to upskill pathologists at Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen?

I want to pick up on that point. In Scotland, radiologists are like hen’s teeth and the NHS is under huge pressure. Is there any way that pathologists could be trained in post-mortem scanning in a shorter time? Could that form part of the training that pathologists do?

I support everything that my colleague has said. Could we also write to ScotRail to seek information on its evaluation of the options for upgrading the infrastructure to support the use of contactless bank cards on the rail network?

I wonder whether we could write to the Commissioner for Fair Access to seek his views on the actions that are called for in the petition.

Thank you for that.

I have a final question. Given the pressures on pathology post-mortem and forensic services, to what extent does use of post-mortem computed tomography scans reduce those pressures?