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Good morning. You mentioned that the carers allowance supplement is increasing by 1.7 per cent. That benefit is only paid in Scotland, and the cost is borne by our budget. In your discussions with Westminster Government, has there been any indication that it intends to replicate that payment, or does it intend to keep carers in other parts of the UK receiving a lesser amount than in Scotland?

It is a lifeline to many, as you know.

Given the concerns that the ALLIANCE has raised, we should write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to highlight its assessment that

“many vulnerable people are not reassured that the removal of protections is safe or that they are considered in decision-making”

in relation to changes to protective measures, and we should ask how people in high-risk groups are being involved in decision-making policies to amend and remove protections from airborne infections in health and social care settings.

I know that my colleague Stuart McMillan has done a lot of work on the issue, too.

I think that we should keep the petition open and write to the Scottish Government to seek a timeline for the publication of its consultation analysis and its work to bring forward regulation. We should also ask for an assessment of how its proposed groupings for procedures and the suggestion that Botox and dermal filler procedures be restricted to premises regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland would impact aesthetics businesses.

That is a good suggestion, but we could wait until we receive a response from the cabinet secretary, then maybe invite him to attend.

Thank you.

Thank you, Martin. Nareen Turnbull, is the experience similar in your council?

Good morning, panel. I will not pick on Nareen Turnbull, who is in the room. I will go straight to Martin Ingram.

The reform of the public sector equality duty started in 2018. As you know, the process was interrupted by Covid. How has the delay affected your council’s ability to fulfil the public sector equality duty?

Jillian, do you have anything to add?

That information was really helpful to our committee. I will hand back to you now, convener.