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I will pick up that theme of engagement with trade unions. I declare an interest as a member of Unison. Minister, do you envisage that there will be any specific changes to the contents of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill following your on-going discussions with trade unions?

We move to Carol Mochan, who is joining us remotely.

Thank you. We move to our next theme with questions from Emma Harper.

I have a question for the minister or the officials, just for clarity. The figures that Sandesh Gulhane was asking for were made available to the Finance and Public Administration Committee, so are they published?

Our third item is a further evidence session as part of the committee’s pre-budget scrutiny for 2024-25. I welcome our witnesses, who are from the Scottish Government: Richard McCallum is the director of health finance and governance; Stephen Lea-Ross is the deputy director of health workforce planning and development; and Niamh O’Connor is the deputy director of the directorate of population health. We move straight to questions, starting with Evelyn Tweed.

Have you a further question, Mr Sweeney?

We have limited time left, but we have quite a few questions still to ask. I ask everyone to be brief and I will have to practise what I preach. I declare an interest as a registered mental health nurse.

I am keen to move on to the topic of workforce and pay. How can the twin pressures of increased pay and demands for additional staff in the NHS and social care be balanced within the limited resources of the Scottish Government budget and its limited borrowing powers? That might be one for Stephen Lea-Ross.

What would become of health and social care partnerships? How would they relate to the national care board in terms of governance?

Good morning, and welcome to the 29th meeting in 2023 of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I have received apologies from David Torrance. James Dornan will join us as a substitute.

The first item on our agenda is to decide whether to take items 4 to 6 in private.? Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

The second item on our agenda is an update from the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport on the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill. I welcome to the meeting the minister, Maree Todd, and, from the Scottish Government, Donna Bell, who is director of social care and national care service development, and Rachael McGruer, who is deputy director of social care and national care service development.

I invite the minister to make a brief opening statement.