Chamber and committees

I have two questions. First, when the data is available will you publish it and put it in the public domain? Secondly, at this early stage, have you picked up any anecdotal evidence of the extent to which the package is going down well and is being taken up?

Thanks, Martin. I know that several other panellists wanted to come in on this point, but I think that you are all likely to be in the scope of some of the questions that Colin Beattie is about to ask. Do not feel that you need to strictly only answer the question that Colin asks if you want to go back and make any points that you think are important to make in relation to that conversation with Willie Coffey about how things are working on the ground.

Thank you, Alex.

I will go to Caroline Amos. There has been quite a push for counselling services to be available in secondary schools in particular; I think that some data and analysis came out about that fairly recently. How is roll-out of counselling services going on the ground, either from a Scotland-wide or a North Ayrshire perspective.

Hannah Axon, can you give us a local government perspective on that “steep hill” and where you see things going? How far away does the summit appear to be from where you are?

Alex Pirie, you are also a member of the joint delivery board. Do you have any perspective on the “steep hill” and where we are on it, and on the engagement of young people and families?

The principal item on the agenda is a round-table discussion on something that has been a recurring theme for our predecessor committee, Audit Scotland and the wider Parliament and public: the current state of child and adolescent mental health services in Scotland.

I will ask members of the committee to ask questions on particular thematic areas, but I want to stress that this is a round-table discussion. It is quite informal and there is nothing to prevent panellists from asking questions of one another if that is felt to be useful. If you want to come in and speak and you are in the room, indicate that to me or the clerks. If you are joining us by videolink, you can use the chat box function; put an R in there and we will take you as soon as we can. I remind everybody that, technically speaking, you do not have to activate your own microphone—it will be activated for you.

Finally, do not feel obliged to answer every question that is put. It may be that, as the conversation develops, particular areas apply to some of you and are probably less applicable to others. Come in whenever you want by indicating, and please feel free to have quite a free-wheeling discussion, albeit that we have to stick to a timetable.

I would like to invite everyone to introduce themselves, starting with the MSPs on the committee. I will then come to those joining us virtually before returning to the witnesses in the committee room.

Sorry—I apologise for omitting to introduce the panellists who are in the committee room before my very eyes. Catriona Morton, do you want to introduce yourself?

I am sure that we will return to some of those themes.

I want to ask a question of the co-chairs of the delivery board. Perhaps Donna Bell could answer first, then Hannah Axon could come in after that. Audit Scotland’s blog said:

“there is a steep hill to climb and making it to the top will mean listening to and learning from the experiences of children and young people and their families.”

Would you agree with that analysis? What action are you taking through the delivery board to get us further up that “steep hill”?

Can you confirm that those young people are members of the joint delivery board?

I said at the start of the session that witnesses can ask each other questions; it is not just a matter of fielding questions from members of the Scottish Parliament.