Item 5 is on our inquiry into rural out-of-hours health care provision. We are invited to consider a response from the Scottish Government to our inquiry report. I refer members to paper 6, which sets out the committee’s options. We also have the response from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing among our papers.
The cabinet secretary has addressed most of our issues. The Scottish Government is looking into integration of and communication between the various services. It would be helpful to get updates and more feedback on the many things that we found in the course of our inquiry. Improvements are being made at the moment, and a debate on the subject in the autumn would be very helpful.
We have received a letter on the topic from Mr Barbor-Might, and there are further issues to be explored.
That is not a committee paper, although you may refer to it.
Well, I have in front of me a letter that I have received from Mr Barbor-Might, which I believe other committee members have received, although it is not a committee paper.
That is correct—thank you.
He expresses some concerns, which I share to an extent, and I think that they need to be explored in debate. I support what Mary Scanlon said about having a debate on the subject. We should explore the matters in the chamber, rather than here and now.
I can put in a bid for one debate of two or two and a half hours, or I can bid for two and a half hours to be split into two debates, rather like the arrangements for tomorrow. I will make that a B plan. Do we want a debate of two or two and a half hours, or shall we split our time to have two separate, short debates?
Both the subjects that we have just discussed are very important topics for the future of Scotland—vast swathes of Scotland are rural areas, and they have their own problems; telehealth and telemedicine offer enormous opportunities for the health of Scotland. That is much too important for a short debate.
Having two longer debates—
But if that is too much to ask—if we are not going to get two debate slots—do you want me to have our time split into two, or should we make a choice between the two subjects?
You should say that we will pass a motion of censure against the Conveners Group if it does not agree.
You go for it, Helen. Do members want me to split our one time slot if we do not get the two debates, however?
No.
Yes. Rather than—
Given that we have a health debate every week, I cannot believe that we will find it impossible to secure two committee debates.
I never said that—I just want to have a B plan.
A second debate could replace some of the less meaningful debates that we are subjected to.
So you want me to go for broke.
Go for broke.
That is very robust—I will try to secure a debate on each topic.