Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning to the cabinet secretary and to the other members of the panel. I have a few questions about the evidence that the committee has heard on a different approach—specifically, on regulation through a registration scheme rather than through the licensing scheme that has been put forward. In your consideration of the issue, why was the suggestion of a registration scheme, rather than a licensing scheme, not taken forward?

I want to continue Murdo Fraser’s line of questioning on unintended consequences. Witnesses from the sector have told the committee that licensing of short-term lets could lead to many owners leaving the sector, potentially costing Scottish tourism tens of millions of pounds in lost revenue annually. How would the cabinet secretary respond to those claims?

I know that we are tight for time. I want to ask a question about the independent review and what witnesses’ expectations are for the scope, remit and working practices of the review. When would you expect its work to be completed in a timely fashion?

That is helpful. I will bring in Trisha Hatt and Craig Smith, but I also want to ask about this point. Referring back to the first panel we had regarding terminal illness, does the panel believe that there is scope for recruitment of qualified people to support people with the application process? Specifically, how can organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support be included in that process?

A concern that has been put to the committee relates to people moving around the UK and having a seamless system in place for rules that will be different in different parts of it. Are the systems currently adequate enough to capture that so that people do not fall through the net when they move around different systems and structures?

That is helpful. We have heard evidence from a number of organisations that work with people who have a terminal illness and are being cared for and their families. To what extent have they been included in designing the system? For example, Marie Curie is obviously on the front line running hospices. Do you have any information about how it has been included in that? That question is for anyone on the panel.

Witnesses have spoken about engagement with the Scottish Government on the transfer from PIP and DLA to ADP. What is the panel’s understanding of the policy, particularly for those who are over the pension age?

The committee has received substantial evidence on people with mental health issues who receive PIP. Has the system captured them as we look towards moving from PIP to ADP? Are there any examples of that work being captured? That is maybe a question for Judith Paterson, as I know that she has been looking at that issue specifically.

I am conscious of time. Can I have brief submissions from Craig Smith and Frank McKillop?

I think that we all welcome the new approach to fast tracking claims from those with a terminal illness. SCOSS has recommended that the Scottish Government set out how it will create a sustainable and seamless system for terminally ill people. How is that work going, and has that been achieved? That may be a question specifically for Judith Paterson.