Fairly voluminous submissions on the act have been received and all of them are extremely interesting. I am grateful to the clerks for preparing a helpful summary of that evidence. Members will see that common and recurring themes are emerging. What does the committee think that we should do now? I am happy to welcome contributions.
The clerks' report is helpful and highlights common themes. The committee might have to return to the act, but I am not sure whether now is the time to do that. I would prefer the committee to note the evidence, pass it on to the Executive and ask the Executive to consider it.
That proposal is constructive. I am conscious of our time commitments from now until the end of June. Even if we wanted to do something, it would be difficult. As Karen Whitefield was correct to say, Alzheimer Scotland is preparing a report for the Executive. It would be sensible to draw all the threads together.
I agree with the convener and Karen Whitefield. Some of the concerns that have been expressed were debated when the then Justice and Home Affairs Committee considered the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Bill. I would not like to provide just another occasion for people on different sides to rehearse the same arguments—I am thinking in particular about the question whether a sheriff or a tribunal should be involved in decision making. Other matters that the then Justice and Home Affairs Committee raised have been mentioned, such as availability of legal aid, training and awareness raising. I would like to follow up those matters, but not to engage in the debate that was dealt with when that bill came to Parliament.
That point is valid. The debate at that time was not uninformed—it might have taken place against a backdrop of the best information available. However, what has happened since the statute was enacted can inform the debate.
We will ask the clerks to proceed on that basis.
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Constitutional Reform Bill