Seòmar agus comataidhean

I am aware that many members have not had an opportunity to ask questions yet. I will bring in Sandesh Gulhane to ask a brief supplementary question, and then Tess White.

That concludes consideration of the instrument. At our next meeting, we will be taking evidence on the draft funeral director code of practice 2024 from the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health.

I thank the cabinet secretary and Richard McCallum for joining us this morning. I will briefly suspend the meeting to allow for a change of witnesses for the next agenda item.

Will Sandesh Gulhane take an intervention on that point?

Are you arguing against multidisciplinary teams and not acknowledging the advanced practice specialties that nurses and AHPs have, which, at times, allows them to provide better and more appropriate care to patients in their practices?

Thank you.

There will be a division.

For

Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)
Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)

Against

Gulhane, Dr. Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Region) (Con)

Thank you, cabinet secretary.

The question is, that motion S6M-11668 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

I remind the committee that members should not put questions to the cabinet secretary during the formal debate and that officials may not speak in the debate. I invite members who wish to contribute to make themselves known.

Has the cabinet secretary considered making the Health and Care Professions Council—HCPC—a regulator for PAs and AAs? If consideration was given to that, why did you decide, as have other parts of the UK, that regulation by the GMC would be more appropriate?