Seòmar agus comataidhean

Welcome to the third joint meeting in 2023 of members of the Criminal Justice, the Health, Social Care and Sport, and the Social Justice and Social Security Committees to consider the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce. We have apologies from Gillian Mackay, and Paul O’Kane will be arriving a little late due to another commitment.

Agenda item 1 is a decision on whether to take item 3, which is to review today’s evidence, in private. Do members agree to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

I call—this time—Paul O’Kane.

Good morning, and welcome to the 31st meeting in 2023 of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. We have received no apologies, and Tess White will be joining us remotely.

Agenda item 1 is to make a decision on taking business in private. Do members agree to take items 3 to 5 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Before we move on to the next question, I have a follow-up question. Cara, you mentioned in your first answer to Stephanie Callaghan that you thought that the pace was too slow. Could you expand on that? Do you think that we should be setting up the national care service more quickly?

I think that we are straying off-piste.

Jim Elder-Woodward, did you want to add anything to your original answer?

I need to move on to Tess White.

Thank you very much. I thank the panellists for their evidence and their attendance, and there will now be a short break to allow for a change of panels.

I call Sandesh Gulhane.

Thank you for coming in there, Rachel. We are very tight for time, so I ask people to keep their questions and answers sharp.