Seòmar agus comataidhean

MHRA regulation is reserved, but I think that there was a very strong feeling across all parties in this Parliament that, wherever support could be given to efforts that the Scottish Government was making to progress issues around the regulation of these devices, it would be forthcoming. I am sure that all parties are still willing and able to offer whatever support the Government feels that it might need if it is struggling to make the progress that we all want to see.

Mr Sweeney, do you want to come in? Mr O’Kelly has slightly anticipated the question that we might have asked.

Before we move on to consider other petitions, do colleagues agree to consider the evidence that we have just heard at our next meeting and to review our actions at that point?

Members indicated agreement.

That concludes this morning’s meeting. We will meet again a week today, on 15 June, when we will hear from the Minister for Parliamentary Business and the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth.

It is a while since Maria Aitken has had a chance to comment. Is there anything that she would like to say at this point? [Interruption.] I think that we have lost the link to Ms Aitken. Perhaps I will come back to her.

Those were the formal questions from committee members. We also have two colleagues with us this morning. I would very much like to give both Liam McArthur and Rhoda Grant the opportunity either simply to make an observation or to put a question, given the importance of the issue and the fact that this evidence session is almost the final opportunity for the committee to consider all the various bits of evidence that we have received.

That is a good idea. We cannot commission a memorial, although it may be that there is a parliamentary committee that could pursue the matter. It would be helpful if the Scottish Government—assuming that it responds positively to the idea—were to indicate which body might be appropriate to advance the proposal.

Do members agree with those recommendations?

Members indicated agreement.

That seems reasonable. Do members agree with that course of action?

Members indicated agreement.

Our next petition is PE1913, which was lodged by Wendy Swain. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to create a separate department within Social Security Scotland that would fast-track future adult disability payment applications for people with a cancer diagnosis while they are undergoing treatment.

At our last consideration of the petition on 2 February, we agreed to seek views from Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK. Macmillan Cancer Support’s response requested that the committee urge the Scottish Government to ensure that the new system of adult disability payment in Scotland follows a number of key principles, which are set out in its submission and relate to the processing times for applications, fast-tracking applications and making greater use of paper-based assessments and evidence from medical professionals.

Do members have any comments or suggestions?

Are we content to progress the proposals as identified by Mr Torrance?

Members indicated agreement.