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I would like us to keep the petition open. I think that, in doing so, we should write to the Minister for Drugs Policy to highlight the issues that are raised in the petition and the related evidence; welcome the work of the MAT implementation group to date; highlight the on-going concerns about resource and capacity issues in the health sector; ask for an update on the situation in NHS Grampian by the end of February with regard to whether a controlled drug licence for police custody settings has been obtained and the timescale for completing the implementation of MAT standards in police custody settings; and seek reassurance on issues of capacity and monitoring of implementation across Scotland to ensure that MAT standards are being met.

The committee could write to the Scottish Government to set out the committee’s recommendations on the basis of the evidence that has been gathered so far. That might include recommending that the Scottish Government undertakes work to explore the benefits and disadvantages of altering the 50MW threshold for consideration of renewable energy developments;, undertaking research into how support could be provided for communities that wish to participate in public inquiries into planning decisions, including onshore wind farm developments; exploring the scope for planning authorities to determine more applications for onshore wind farm development; and exploring opportunities to ensure that the demonstration of local support is a key material consideration for planning authorities when determining applications for onshore wind farm developments.

Considering the response that we have had from the cabinet secretary and the Scottish Government, I would like to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that there is no mandatory curriculum in Scotland. Also, the Scottish Government has indicated that the learn to swim framework is being delivered in 27 out of 32 local authority areas, with progress being made within two further local authority areas towards delivering the framework during 2023 and that Water Safety Scotland and Education Scotland have launched an educational resource for schools to provide a consistent level of learning across Scotland’s educational institutions.

I wonder whether we should keep the petition open and write to Education Scotland to follow up on the committee’s previous request for information on how it monitors the implementation of teaching guidance. I would also like to see as soon as possible what comes back from the consultation on RSHP.

Yes, it is, convener, particularly because of those discrepancies across local authorities. The committee could write to the relevant stakeholders, including Citizens Advice Scotland, Dementia Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland to seek their views on the actions that the petition calls for; the impact of the legislative requirement in relation to eligibility for a qualifying state benefit; the variation in the approaches taken to assessment by local authorities across Scotland; and the level and variation across Scotland of referrals for post-diagnostic support for people who have been newly diagnosed with dementia.

On the basis of the guidance from Food Standards Scotland, historic evidence and the weight of opinion from the scientific community, can we close the petition under rule 15.7 of the standing orders? I do not think that Food Standards Scotland or the Scottish Government will shift on this issue.

I am quite happy to withdraw my recommendations and to write to—

I welcome Roger Mullin, who is one of my constituents.

I wonder whether the committee could write to key stakeholders, including the Law Society of Scotland, the National Union of Journalists and the Scottish Newspaper Society, seeking their views on the action that is called for in the petition.

Good morning to the cabinet secretary and the other witnesses. The pandemic increased the use of digital technology. What impact has that increased use of digital services had in remote rural areas? I am conscious of time, so I will roll all my questions into one. What are the potential benefits and risks of a reliance on digital services in rural areas?

A friend of mine had a position in NHS Highland to go to, but after three months of searching, they could not find suitable accommodation. I have strong connections to Aviemore, where the residents welcome the new community hospital. However, once again, there is no accommodation, unless you want to pay £600 a week for a holiday let.

In your opening statement, you mentioned that the University of the Highlands and Islands had increased the number of its places by 33 per cent. Will we not lose people from such areas if there is no accommodation? Is lack of affordable accommodation the biggest barrier to recruitment and retention of staff, and how can we fix it?