Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning, and welcome to the sixth meeting in 2024 of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I have received apologies from Ruth Maguire MSP; James Dornan MSP is attending as a substitute.

Today, we begin our scrutiny of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill. As Gillian Mackay MSP is the member in charge of the bill, Gillian will not participate in the committee’s scrutiny of the bill by virtue of rule 9.13A.2(b). Ross Greer MSP will attend in her place as a committee substitute by virtue of rule 12.2A.2. Welcome, Ross. By virtue of rule 12.2.3(a), Gillian Mackay is attending the meeting as the member in charge of the bill. Welcome, Gillian.

The first item on our agenda is to decide whether to take item 5 in private and whether to consider in private at future meetings evidence heard at those meetings as part of the committee’s stage 1 scrutiny of the Abortion (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill. Are members agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

I thank the witnesses for their evidence this morning. You have certainly helped with the committee’s scrutiny of the bill. At our next meeting, on 5 March, we will continue to take evidence as part of the committee’s stage 1 scrutiny of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.

That concludes the public part of our meeting.

The next item on our agenda is a presentation from Emily Ottley, who undertook commissioned research for the committee on an international comparison of abortion safe access zones legislation. Welcome, Emily. I invite you to give a presentation of no more than 15 minutes, after which I will invite members to ask questions.

We have already heard from Alice Murray and Lily Roberts about their support for the bill. What would the other panel members expect to be the impact of the bill, were it to be passed and enacted?

Thank you. Ross Greer wants to come in.

Thank you very much, Emily.

Sandesh Gulhane wants to come in.

Thank you.

Again, I thank Lily and Alice for coming along this morning.

We will move to questions for the whole panel.

I think that Lucy McDonald wants to come in.