The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 850 contributions
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
I wonder whether we should write to the Scottish Government. It will be running a health awareness messaging campaign on social media later this year, and given the fact that Covid has been brought into the matter, perhaps it can be put into that social media campaign.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
I think that Jackie Baillie wants to say something.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
I have been caught in diversions several times, especially when going to the Harley-Davidson rally. I have had to wait for six hours. In some communities, people would not travel if they had to wait a lengthy time in diversions, especially to places such as Aviemore for skiing, given that that there are alternative ski resorts in the area, off the A9. A long delay—
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
I put on record that I am somebody who knows the A9 well and has been to the Moy fair for the past 25 years—Fergus will probably testify to seeing me there.
Your first option, which is the quickest way to do it, is to break the road down into three sections. How much would that disrupt the tourism industry? Would it cut it off for a long time in the area?
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
Just to put on record, those communities around there and a lot of the holiday towns—Aviemore and such places—would be devastated, would they not?
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
If someone has road tax for their vehicle, whether or not it is a camper van, they are allowed to park it anywhere, as long as it is not causing an obstruction to a road or driveway. Therefore, under rule 15.7 of standing orders, I am happy to close the petition—
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
Convener, I am quite happy to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders—[Laughter.]—if any other committee members wish to back me.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
I know that it is to do with contracts, but how difficult is it to get the workforce there and get accommodation for it? From speaking to people who stay in the area in which I am, I know that winter rates are cheap and that the communities rely on tourists in the summer. Therefore, workers were moved off the A9 and away and found it very difficult to get accommodation—they were having to travel. Having to travel huge distances to get to those sections is not an attractive prospect for anybody who is employed in that industry.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
Yes.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Meeting date: 14 June 2023
David Torrance
I want to make two points. I have had mesh inside me for a long time following a hernia repair, and I am one of the 90 per cent of people for whom its use has been very successful. Indeed, it has changed my life. Therefore, I would definitely rule out a ban on the use of all mesh implants.
You have mentioned this already, convener, but when we write to the Scottish Association of Medical Directors, could we ask them about the very strict criteria that need to be met at Shouldice hospital before surgery can go ahead? If we implemented such strict criteria, would the public accept that? The fact is that many patients would be rejected for surgery on those grounds.