Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 places duties on ministers to ensure that public bodies exercise their functions with regard to communities. Is there enough protection in that? It is a difficult one. The ethical standards commissioner can come in if communities do not agree that they have been consulted or invited on to boards. I think that protections are in place for anybody who disagrees.

We should write to relevant stakeholders, such as Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, to ask for their views on the petition. However, in light of the fact that there is no blood test that can detect all cancers, we will have to wait for the recommendations from the UK body.

I would like to keep the petition open just to receive those views.

For the sake of consensus, I will say yes.

I am very sympathetic towards the petition and the taxi trade but, given that Transport Scotland will be engaging with stakeholders on how all the recommendations can be progressed, I would be quite happy to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders. If the petitioner does not get satisfaction from the outcome of that engagement, they could bring the petition back to the committee.

In the light of the Scottish Government’s response, SEPA’s responsibilities for natural flood management and the lack of evidence, I would be happy to close the petition under rule 15.7 of the standing orders.

I have no relevant interests to declare.

Thank you, convener. I look forward to the petitions that will come to us. As you say, we do not know what they will be, so it will be interesting to see what they are. We should highlight the good work that the committee does. That is really important.

As you said, this is now my third session on the committee. I am really looking forward to it.

I come back to Stephanie Callaghan and ask her to declare any relevant interests.

I see that Stephanie has left.

We move to agenda item 2. The committee’s next task is to choose a convener. The procedure is explained in paper 2.

Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish National Party are eligible for nomination as convener of the committee. I invite members of that party to nominate one of their number for the post.

I congratulate Gillian on her appointment and wish her every success as convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I am happy to hand over the chair.