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That is really helpful.

To follow up on that point, did you get a response from the women whom you consulted as to whether they thought that there was enough publicity around the scheme? Were they aware of it? If so, how did they hear about it?

I want to raise a slightly different issue: events in school, which are particularly relevant at this time of year. I am sure that you will have seen some of the commentary in the media about nativity plays taking place in schools with parents present. I am sure that all parents are aware of what an important rite of passage it is to have your children in a nativity play and to be able to watch them. As a parent, I can take my children to a crowded theatre or cinema, with lots of other people, who may or may not be vaccinated, yet the current guidance says that I cannot go as a parent into a school setting to watch children take part in a nativity play.

Do you have any thoughts on that? In particular, do you think that it is appropriate for the matter to be dealt with through a single piece of national guidance? Given that the Covid rates in schools are quite varied, should there be local discretion, with decisions being taken at school level or with local authorities, based on the situation on the ground, rather than having a blanket approach? We will start with Margaret Wilson on that one.

Good morning, panel. I will start with Gavin Stevenson and ask about the announcement from the Scottish Government on Tuesday that it is considering extending the vaccination passport scheme, which could come in from 4 December, if I remember rightly—we will hear about that on Tuesday coming. What is your view on a possible extension and the impact that, were it to be introduced, that would have on businesses in your sector? What engagement have you had with Scottish Government ministers around the policy?

Thank you, Mr Stevenson. My second question was about the engagement that you have had with Scottish Government ministers on the issue.

I want to ask a couple of questions that have come up in evidence that we have heard today. The first came from our committee adviser, Professor Peter Donnelly, who told us, when we were in our private session, that there has been a 20 per cent rise in excess deaths compared to what we would normally expect at this time of year and that that cannot be explained by an increase in the Covid rates. He said that it is an issue that needs urgent consideration. In his view, the rise is down to pathologies and diseases that are going undetected and untreated, including later stage cancers, for example. Do you agree that that is a serious issue? If so, what is being done to try to better understand why it is happening and address it?

Thank you. Those are very helpful answers. I know that my colleague Jim Fairlie will pursue the issue in due course and I am sure that the committee will want to return to it because it is so significant.

I have a separate question about vaccination passports and the consideration that the Scottish Government is giving to extending the scheme. I will not get into rehearsing all the arguments for and against; we have debated them before and we will debate them again. However, the specific issue of extending the vaccination passport scheme to other hospitality groups or, for example, theatres has come up in evidence today.

We know that people will have made bookings for Christmas parties, office lunches and, as it is panto season, family trips to the theatre, as my family has done. People tend to book those things well ahead. If such premises are brought under the remit of the vaccination passport system and people have not been vaccinated at this point, there will not be time for them to get vaccinated prior to Christmas. They will then presumably look to cancel their bookings and get their money back. That will be a significant challenge for theatre operators and the hospitality trade.

Does the Scottish Government recognise that challenge and, if it goes down that route, does it recognise that those businesses will legitimately look for substantial financial compensation to make up for that loss of income?

Thank you. I put the same questions to Mr McCullough.

Thank you.

I am still getting communications from constituents—I am sure that you are too—who are unable to get vaccination certification via the app. They are people who either were part of a trial and the app is not able to provide that certification, or who were vaccinated in other jurisdictions, perhaps overseas. Again, the app does not permit them to produce that certification. They are concerned that, if the vaccination passport scheme is rolled out further, it will put them at a disadvantage. What is being done to make sure that people in those categories can get the certification that they need?

Thank you.