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That is not what has happened here.

I do, but I want an answer.

I have no relevant interests to declare.

I suggest that the example that you used in response to Stephanie Callaghan shows the benefits of centralisation. However, what are the potential risks associated with centralisation of accountability?

In the process of your investigation for your report, did you come across a barrier to the idea of centralisation from vested interests? I do not mean that in a critical way—I mean the likes of people who are doing the job just now. Did you find that they are opposed to centralisation because they think that it might take away some of their influence and power, or think that it might damage the service?

I was on a health and social care partnership when I was a councillor, and I saw the benefit of that joint working, although the silo mentality was still very strong then. I am pleased to hear that things have improved in the IJBs.

I have a question for Alison Keir. The bill is a framework bill, so you all have an opportunity to feed in what you would like to see and to co-design the service. You mentioned the specifics of different terms and conditions. Surely the bill will go some way towards alleviating the problems that arise from the staff of the two bodies having different terms and conditions.

However, we are at the very beginning of the process. This is the time—

Thank you very much for the very helpful presentation, Dr Connon. I want to ask about eligibility. You seem to suggest that there is a balancing act here: either we make the eligibility criteria higher and give a better service or we lower them and have a lower than optimum service that extends to more people. What are your thoughts on that? Where do you see the balance being struck?

I have one more question. Under the heading “Findings 3”, you say, pretty clearly:

“Increasing integration has had a relatively limited effect on reducing existing health inequalities to date.?”

Is that because there are different systems across the UK, with different amounts of funding—or lack of funding—going into them, or is it because the new system has not been running long enough, as is the case in Scotland?

Thanks very much for that.