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I want to expand a little on that, because your answer was moving on to my next question. You rightly focused on ensuring that people with lived experience are part of that co-design. That is incredibly important, so can you say a little more and expand on that?

Thank you. I will bring in Frank McKillop. Frank, I put to you the same question about ensuring that reform does not destabilise your services, but perhaps you could comment on the contracts issue as well.

I am conscious of the time, but, if I may, I will put the same questions to Chris Gehrke. As you will know, Chris, our policy will have to work across Scotland. I ask you to respond to my question about ensuring that reform does not destabilise your services, and to cover the point about contracts.

My question is about another human rights issue. Last week, we heard from witnesses who said that people’s rights were removed during the Covid pandemic. How will the bill prevent that from happening again? Is the bill necessary in order to do that? It was the care homes issue that was brought up in that context.

It would be useful if we could be kept aware of the work of the lived experience panel as that develops, because it is incredibly important.

Good morning. The policy memorandum to the bill says:

“Phasing of the transfer of functions from 2025-26 will need to be based on delivery readiness assessments. Clear, transparent local transition plans will be developed with partners so that everyone affected is comfortable with what is happening, where and when.”

How can it best be ensured that process reform does not destabilise your services? I put that question to Andrew Ewen first.

Rachel, will you give your point of view? I will then bring in anyone else who wants to comment.

I will move on to the next theme. In the context of the bill, we are talking about care users and carers, and the workforce, but I want to talk about the broader societal impact of the bill. We have not touched on that; it is almost wrapped around the bill. Do you want to expand on where you see the bill having a broader societal impact?

You mentioned the issue of contracts. The bill would allow contracts to be reserved to voluntary and third sector organisations. What are your views on that approach? Do you see advantages or disadvantages in it? I will open that question up and allow others to comment on contracts as well as the broader question that I asked.

Good morning, minister. Some witnesses have told us that urgent reforms cannot and do not need to wait for the national care service to be established. To what extent is establishing the national care service a pre-condition to improving social care? To expand on that, we asked witnesses in the earlier session how the Scottish Government can ensure that the process of creating a national care service does not destabilise existing services at this time of transition. Could you comment on that, too?