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Police Scotland will provide training for its officers. As the discussion has highlighted, this is a tricky area and we have to make sure that we get it right. As I have said before, the important thing is that we ensure that women who are accessing the services can do so safely and without impediment, alarm or distress. I should also note that Police Scotland is independent of Government.

When we were constructing the bill, we acknowledged that there would be examples such as you have given—that is, that there could be new hospitals and that locations could change. We wanted to ensure the right speed of response so that the new buildings could be captured and so that a zone could be reduced, if necessary, if a location changed or stopped providing services. We felt that there was a need for a prompt response. However, I know that there has been a lot of discussion, concern and input into the consultation on that point. I would be interested to read the committee’s stage 1 report regarding the views that you have gathered on increasing or decreasing the size of zones.

I would be very surprised if there was not a consultation, because the legislation currently deals with places that provide abortions under the Abortion Act 1967. If there was a change there, we would need to consult on it.

Again, I say that I have heard both sides. It is important to show where zones start and finish but, as you have said, there is a point to be made about shining a beacon on where services are provided. We have spoken to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about that and we will, as the bill progresses, continue to discuss what we think is appropriate.

Hospitals will be required to have a map on their website showing exactly where the zones are. That is a really important way of publicising them that will ensure that everyone has consistent information.

We are still discussing signage. Again, I am interested to hear what proposals the committee makes in its report.

Yes. We have said that the zone is 200m.

I think that legislation needs to be reviewed, so I am interested to hear how committee responds to that in its report.

It is difficult to get inside the thoughts and views of a woman who is accessing abortion services. I want to ensure that they can do that as safely as possible, avoiding the demonstrations that are specifically directed at them at a time of, I am sure, great stress and emotion. That is what the bill sets out.

Abortion is highly regulated in healthcare, which is incredibly important. The committee heard some important evidence from women who had accessed abortion services that they were slightly surprised at the level of questioning and advice that they got to ensure that they were making the right decisions for themselves. I thought that that evidence was very powerful.

You also heard what I felt was very powerful evidence from Professor Cameron about the level of support that members of staff give to women who are exploring or seeking abortion. When leaflets that have been handed out by protesters or people holding vigils were shared with members of the committee, it was clear that they did not contain the right medical information. I find that concerning. It was noted in evidence that, after some women had received those leaflets, the staff in the facilities had to provide more assurance—which is right, as all the questions should be asked. However, I go back to what I said earlier, which is that abortions are very regulated, and the healthcare that is provided is very regulated and supported. I believe that it is from healthcare professionals that people should be seeking that level of advice and support.

I think that, in evidence to you, the police made it clear that they would not be asking people whether they were praying, which I believe happened to one of the women who gave evidence to you. As I said earlier, there would have to be other things around the demonstrations, which the police would look for.

What we are protecting individuals and society from is the intention to cause alarm and distress and impede access.