Chamber and committees

I think that Dr Fenton wanted to say something on that.

Okay. Thank you. I will bring in Peter Hastie on that question, and I have another question for him. You gave the good example of bowel testing, in which there is now a delay. Is Covid still having a major impact in hospitals, or can we see a shift to non-Covid conditions being seen as a public emergency? In relation to bowel cancer, the importance of bowel testing seems to be quite clear. What other actions do we need to consider for the national health service in Scotland, specifically in relation to cancer?

It has been suggested that someone could accept the nomination to be a named person without properly understanding the roles and responsibilities that go along with it. Is that a genuine concern? Have there been problems in the past, or do you think that we are just looking to cut out some bureaucracy and that the measure is no real threat?

I will start with Roger Smyth.

That is helpful. Rob, on the question of the widening inequality gap, what needs to happen to bring services together to work together?

To anybody.

I will leave it there. Thank you.

Yes it does, thank you.

Abbey, is there adequate provision to support the level of demand for such services?

Do the other witnesses have any views on whether the bill is actually needed?

David Menzies talked about normal times; I found myself asking what normal times are. We had the global economic collapse in 2008, then we had austerity, which had a major impact on public services.

I will ask a general question about the on-going support that is available for members of the public who are trying to access money advice and debt services. We have certainly seen a rise in demand for those services, but have we seen a rise in their availability? In Fife, the local authority made big cuts in those areas. In relation to provision of and pressufgitalre on services, are people getting the support and services that they need? That question goes to Jamie MacNeil.

David Menzies mentioned the number of bankruptcies that are pursued by local authorities in relation to council tax debt. Do we need to look at that? There is a feeling that local authorities will go after individuals, but every year they write off millions of pounds that are owed to them by corporations and others. Is the public sector’s approach fair? Is it just the case that it is easier to go after individuals for small amounts than it is to go after corporates and companies?