Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
The Committee was established in June 2021. It focuses on:
- health services in Scotland, including performance, staffing and funding
- NHS recovery and remobilisation
- primary care, including dentistry, GPs, and pharmacy services
- public health including mental health and wellbeing, and tackling drug and alcohol misuse
- social care
- sport and physical activity
Next meeting
Meeting details are not yet available. They will be published here in due course.
Get in touch
If you want to get in touch, you can contact Alex Bruce, the Clerk for the committee.
Address: The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 3485979 Find out about call charges.
Email: [email protected]
X (previously known as Twitter): @SP_HSCS
If you're appearing as a witness at a committee, take a look at our witness guide for more information.
Members
Members of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Current Members
Clare Haughey
Convener
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Rutherglen (Constituency)
Paul Sweeney
Deputy Convener
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: Glasgow (Region)
Dr. Sandesh Gulhane
Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Glasgow (Region)
Emma Harper
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: South Scotland (Region)
Gillian Mackay
Member
Party: Scottish Green Party
MSP for: Central Scotland (Region)
Ruth Maguire
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Cunninghame South (Constituency)
Ivan McKee
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Glasgow Provan (Constituency)
Carol Mochan
Member
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: South Scotland (Region)
David Torrance
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Kirkcaldy (Constituency)
Tess White
Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: North East Scotland (Region)
Substitute Members
Jackie Baillie
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: Dumbarton (Constituency)
James Dornan
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Glasgow Cathcart (Constituency)
Ross Greer
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Green Party
MSP for: West Scotland (Region)
Sue Webber
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Lothian (Region)
Committee work
Current
Previous
Alternative pathways into primary care
Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
Experiences of the Complex Mesh Surgical Service
Health and wellbeing of children and young people
Health inequalities
Inquiry into female participation in sport and physical activity
Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill
Perinatal Mental Health
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary
Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill
Winter planning 2023-24
Future
The Committee considers its work programme regularly to maintain a rolling programme of business. The Committee's main business over coming months will include:
Legislation
Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee’s call for written evidence closes in December 2023. The Committee plans to hold oral evidence sessions as part of its Stage 1 scrutiny of the Bill in early 2024.
National Care Service (Scotland) Bill: The Committee is undertaking ongoing scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1 in advance of the revised Stage 1 deadline of 31 January 2024.
Inquiries
Healthcare in remote and rural areas: The Committee’s call for written evidence closed on 20 October 2023. The Committee will begin taking oral evidence in late 2023/early 2024.
Post-legislative scrutiny of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013: The Committee’s call for written evidence closes in January 2024. The Committee expects to take evidence later in 2024.
Routine scrutiny
The Committee will continue its routine scrutiny of organisations with policy responsibilities within its remit. This will include, for example, periodically taking evidence from special and territorial NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships as well as statutory organisations within the health, social care and sport remit such as Food Standards Scotland, the Mental Welfare Commission and the Care Inspectorate.
Over the coming months the Committee will further consider:
- Electronic patient records
- Perinatal mental health
- Pre-budget scrutiny 2024-25
- Post-legislative scrutiny: Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012
- Post-legislative scrutiny: Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019
- Public health impact of vaping
- Scottish Football Association
- The Women’s Health Plan
Correspondence
Committee correspondence
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care to the HSCS Convener concerning EU exit legislation, 19 April 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care to the HSCS Convener concerning the Health and Social Care Interministerial Group Meeting, 18 April 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Minimum unit pricing of alcohol
Letter from the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy following her giving evidence on 26 March, 16 April 2024
Official Reports
Official Reports
Meeting date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Decisions on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Decisions on Taking Business in Private, Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Document Subject to Parliamentary Control
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Budget Scrutiny 2024-25, Subordinate Legislation
Reports
Committee reports
Stage 1 report on the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill
A report on the Stage 1 scrutiny of the general principles of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
Subordinate legislation considered on 26 March 2024 - Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol
This report sets out the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's consideration of two Scottish Statutory Instruments (SSIs) at its meeting on 26 March 2024 - the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 (Continuation Order) 2024 and the Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024.
Stage 1 report on the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill
A report on Stage 1 scrutiny of the general principles of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
Remit
To consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care and matters relating to drugs and alcohol policy.