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In recent months, Social Security Scotland has been taking longer to complete redeterminations of adult disability payment applications. Have our witnesses any idea why that might be the case? What impact are the delays having on clients? How could those delays be addressed?

Would Richard Gass like to respond?

That is very helpful.

The person who is being cared for can already be liable for noticeable overpayments caused by their representatives, and the bill extends that to include overpayments that a person might not necessarily have noticed were the result of an honest mistake by their representative. Do you agree with that?

Appointees and other formal representatives would be liable for overpayments only if they misused the funds; they would not be liable for honest mistakes. There is also an existing requirement to have regard to financial circumstances before seeking to recover overpayments. Do the witnesses agree with making formal representatives liable in those circumstances?

Thank you very much. I am very grateful to the committee.

I appear on behalf of both petitioners. Roseanna Clarkin, whom you have already spoken about, convener, continues to suffer from mesh-related complications and is attempting to obtain support through NHS and Social Security Scotland. There are a number of issues in relation to that. She hopes that the mesh will eventually be removed, although there are some complications with that.

I also appear on behalf of Lauren McDougall, whose mother unfortunately died shortly after a hernia mesh procedure. The petitioners work with a number of campaigners who have been negatively impacted specifically by the use of mesh in hernia processes. They believe that a number of outstanding issues remain and that mesh is still used in hernia procedures in many situations where alternatives could be used.

I will focus on the second part of the petition, which relates to guidelines for the surgical use of mesh. It would be helpful if we could get more evidence of current practice, and I would ask the committee to consider whether it would be willing to look at examples of individuals who are currently receiving mesh in situations where they believe that alternatives should have been considered and would be more appropriate, with a view to looking at the type of guidelines that perhaps could be created in Scotland.

Last week, Erica Young from Citizens Advice Scotland argued that clients ought to be able to go straight to appeal without having to go to a redetermination first. On the other hand, another witness, Diane Connock from Stirling Council, thought that that might be too daunting for some people. What are your views on that? I ask Claire Andrews to respond first.

I do not know whether any of the other witnesses want to speak.

Should lapsed appeals be allowed, even if what is offered to an individual is not the best possible award that could be achieved at tribunal? I ask SAMH to come in first.

I meant more generally, but you can focus on that specific issue if you have a view on it.

Thank you.