Seòmar agus comataidhean

Okay. My next question is for Norman Donald, if he is still online. Can you give me an indication of whether the restrictions would have an impact on retailers?

On the demographics of East Kilbride, which is the constituency that I represent, 60 per cent of the population are over 50 years old. Would control zones be permanent or would you look, in your data gathering, at changing them each year? For example, there could be a new housing estate area. You are obviously commenting on behalf of West Lothian Council, but how do you envisage that being taken forward?

I have no further questions.

Good afternoon. Nicola Robison alluded to firework control zones, but I will pose my question to Julie Whitelaw, because it is more relevant to local authorities.

During the committee’s recent visit to Blackburn, community representatives raised concerns about how firework control zones would be managed—and safely managed, at that. They expressed concerns about unintended consequences. For example, the zones would potentially attract people who want to use fireworks to generate confrontation—as has been experienced in the past—which has required the involvement of police and fire services.

Recently, there have also been concerns about focus on the zones being to the detriment of other areas, and about potential displacement of misuse of fireworks. What are your views on those issues, and how do you envisage the zones working in practice?

Do you not see control zones as a reactive rather than proactive response?

The intention of the bill is that the introduction of firework control zones will help to prevent high levels of unpredictable fireworks use. Do you think that the zones will contribute to misuse of fireworks? How can that be policed? That question is to Nicola Robison.

Does David MacKenzie want to add anything on control zones?

I put on record that I will be a member of the proposed CPG, if it is accepted.

In relation to my background, I also put on record that, prior to being elected, I worked for a care charity with three care homes in Scotland, so the subject is really close to my heart. It is so welcome to see the CPG being established and to be able to be a voice for those young people. I have seen at first hand the challenges that they face.

One thing that stood out for me, which I would like to see addressed going forward, is that in a care home setting, although the local authority is the corporate parent, there is potentially no will to have any of the care staff make sure that the young people are going to school and getting a proper education. It is not incumbent on them. The other thing that stood out for me is the fact that the young people were very reluctant to register to vote, which I found quite concerning. They felt that big brother was watching them and that the police would be on to them for various different things if they registered.

It is an area that I am really passionate about, and I am keen to take it forward in order to bust any myths associated with care experience.

[Inaudible.]—observation that is based on the papers that were submitted in relation to the restrictions that have been put in place. Teresa Medhurst provided a table, which is found in the annex to paper 5, showing how different establishments used those restrictions between October 2021 and February 2022. I welcome the table and its breakdown by establishment of the restrictions that have been put in place. However, I am fully aware of the fact that the restrictions have been in place for much longer, to varying degrees, in each establishment. I want to put on record my concern for the mental health of some of the prisoners, given that those restrictions have been in place for much longer than that timescale.

Thank you. Does David Hamilton want to comment on that?