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My question has been partly answered by Stewart Carle, but I want to ask a little bit more about the factors that seem to have existed in real cases. I understand that there is a relatively small number of cases, so you therefore do not want to make general conclusions. However, the committee has met in private a number of police officers who have explained the factors that have led them to have mental health issues, either as serving police officers or former police officers. I do not want to presume or to speculate about what the factors are. It may well be that the committee already has an understanding of them, but I think that it would be helpful for us to hear from you on the subject. Stewart Carle mentioned fatal road crashes, which is indeed something that our witnesses spoke to us about.

Andy Shanks, I am not suggesting that you can reach general conclusions from specific cases, but, given the real cases that you have looked at, can you outline some of the factors that seem to have been evident? When we spoke to serving police officers, a concern was raised about the counselling services that are available to police officers. Can you outline whether there have been interventions in terms of those particular police officers and whether there are any lessons to be learned in relation to real cases?

Does the federation want to come in?

But it is obviously very important that we do understand that so that we can take action to try to prevent these kinds of situations. The courts look at these kinds of issues in personal injury cases. Was there a safe system of work? We need to be able to provide safe systems of work for serving police officers.

I do not know whether Gary Ritchie wants to comment on that. I would like to get just a little more detail. I do not want in any way to breach confidentiality or speak about specific cases, but we do need to understand. I could put words in your mouth as to what I think the issues might be, but I think that it would be better if you could maybe outline what you think some of the factors are.

Does Stewart want to come in?

Was it often the case that the individual had been exposed to very traumatic circumstances? Was that a factor in cases?

Thank you.

The point is that the Scottish Government decided to opt out of the procurement legislation that went through Westminster because it wants to stick closely to European regulations. Obviously, the Parliament could regulate in relation to procurement. What might that look like? What would you like it to look like? Maybe you do not want to go down that path, but it is something that I am interested in.

My first question is probably best directed at Louisa Macdonnell. How best can the fair work agenda be moved forward in the current economic climate? What are your thoughts on that?

We are living in difficult times, and they are particularly difficult for working people, given the pressures of food and fuel inflation. Andrea Bradley, it is quite clear that, in some sectors, and in the private sector in particular, trade unions have got some very good deals, particularly after industrial action, and that might be associated with labour shortages. How can a tight labour market lead to improvements in family-friendly working? I appreciate that you are more involved in the public sector, but perhaps you can speak in the round about both the public and private sectors.

Yes, and they obviously lose pay when they do that.

I will bring in Karen Hedge on the care issue. We hear regularly about people leaving the care sector, perhaps to go into other sectors such as retail because they will earn more there. What scope is there for increasing flexible working for front-line workers, particularly in the care sector?