Seòmar agus comataidhean

Does the Government agree that the commitments in the programme for government and the Covid recovery strategy can be more effectively delivered with routine use of participative democracy, and if so, how?

As a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, I can say that we are finalising our work programme just now, so I would like to refer PE1845, PE1890, PE1915 and PE1924 to that committee, in the context of the committee’s wider consideration of health inequalities.

With regard to all the actions and international best practice that makes sense for the definitions.

Many of the people I represent are in poverty, but they are in work. I have a question for Sharon Wright. What do we need to do to change employment law? A lot of people are on zero-hours contracts, for example, which is forcing them into poverty and they are stuck, because they cannot then go on to benefits.

The third sector is very successful in reaching families, individuals and communities—in many cases, it is far better than Government agencies. How has the Covid pandemic affected the third sector in relation to volunteers? The sector relies heavily on them and I know that, with two of the organisations that I have been involved in, the volunteers have not returned in the same numbers. I will ask Richard Meade about that first.

There are very strict criteria at Shouldice hospital, especially on patient weight loss. In fact, Dr Spencer Netto told the committee that some of its patients have to lose between 50 and 100 pounds before the hospital will even see them before going ahead with a natural repair. Could such criteria be brought into play here? Would it be acceptable to do so?

Are the skills in natural tissue hernia repair techniques being lost in Scotland in favour of teaching surgeons mesh repairs? Could more surgeons in Scotland be receiving training in natural tissue methods?

Again, I think that what the petition calls for has been achieved. Therefore, I would like us to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the terms of reference for the Covid-19 inquiry have now been published and will include consideration of the provision of education and certification during the pandemic.

In closing the petition, we might wish to draw the attention of the Education, Children and Young People Committee to the issues that have been raised.

What do you think are the recurrent issues that impact on recruitment of health and social care staff in rural areas?

I think that this issue has been well investigated by the committee over two parliamentary sessions. We have taken evidence from everyone we needed to hear from. In our most recent evidence session, we got assurances that the proposal would not go ahead for five years. I do not think that we can take the issue any further—how many of us will be here in five years’ time?

I believe that what the petition originally called for has been addressed. I am therefore happy for us to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the issues that were raised by the petitioner now appear to have been resolved.