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Can the witnesses please be extremely brief as we have one and a half minutes to go?

On what scientific or evidential basis are you asking for that?

I want to check the figure that you mentioned. You said that alcohol accounts for 16 per cent of sales in convenience stores, on average—

Mr Torrance wants to come in. You must be very brief, because we need to finish.

Thank you.

Given that we have moved to the debate on the motion, I ask you to read your statement and move the motion, please.

I remind members that they should not put questions to the minister during the formal debate and that officials may not speak in the debate.

I have had no indication that any member wishes to make a further contribution. Minister, do you wish to sum up?

That concludes consideration of the document.

Our meeting next week will be held fully in private to continue consideration of a draft stage 1 report on the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill. At our meeting on 6 February, we will take evidence from stakeholders as part of our post-legislative scrutiny of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012.

I thank the minister for her answer. No other members have indicated that they wish to ask a question, so we will move to agenda item 2, which is the formal debate on the document on which we have just taken evidence.

I ask the minister to speak to and move motion S6M-11905.

Good morning, and welcome to the second meeting in 2024 of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I have received no apologies for today’s meeting.

Our first agenda item is consideration of the draft Funeral Director Code of Practice, which is a document that is subject to parliamentary control. The purpose of the code is to set minimum standards for funeral director businesses in their care of the deceased, and related procedures and behaviours. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the document at its meeting on 9 January 2024 and made no recommendations in relation to it.

We will have an evidence session on the document with the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, and her supporting Scottish Government officials. Once all our questions have been answered, we will proceed to a formal debate on the motion.

I welcome to the committee Jenni Minto; Elizabeth Sadler, deputy director of public health capabilities, Jo-anne Tinto, lawyer; and Alexandra Wright, burial and cremation team leader.

We will move straight to questions.