The Crown Office has suggested introducing a system for retrial, should a two-thirds majority just be missed—for example, if seven out of 12 jurors think that there should be a guilty verdict. Should such a system be incorporated in the bill?

Sandy Brindley, do you have any thoughts on that?

Thank you.

That is fine. Last week, there was talk about whether we should go for unanimity in a jury or for a simple majority. What would be your preference?

I thank Sue Webber for bringing such an important debate to the chamber. I want to highlight the critical role that Ayrshire hospice plays in my region and how such a charity can make a significant difference by providing compassionate care to those in need when they need it and, by doing so, relieve pressure on the NHS.

Earlier this year, I met Tracy Flynn, the chief executive officer of Ayrshire hospice. Tracy is passionate about the hospice and about giving the best care to everyone in the community, and the hospice itself goes beyond cancer care with a dedicated community team covering the entire region. Its 24/7 availability not only serves as a lifeline to families in moments of crisis but prevents unnecessary strain on the NHS by reducing emergency admissions. In addition to comprehensive cancer care, the hospice offers a range of services, including respite and response, bereavement counselling, the living well service and more.

Tracy also emphasised the importance of effective collaboration between the hospice and community hospitals. It is clear to me, and it is crucial to acknowledge, that a well-functioning hospice, such as Ayrshire hospice, provides immeasurable cost savings for the NHS. However, hospices exist in a challenging landscape. Only just over a third of hospices’ income comes from statutory funding; they have to fundraise the rest. As has been said, hospices face an expected deficit of £16 million this year, largely due to the cost of matching the NHS pay awards. The fact is that, to retain their key specialist staff, they need to match those pay rises.

Ayrshire hospice is one of three Scottish hospices that are funded directly by the health board, not by the health and social care partnerships. It has received just under 50 per cent of its funding from NHS Ayrshire and Arran, which falls short of covering the pay awards. Hospices must provide those pay awards independently in order to retain and recruit clinical staff.

Hospices are seeking a new framework for funding that will provide future guarantees, and they want funding that fully covers the pay awards to be passed on—and in a timely manner, too. That new framework could ensure that funding reaches hospices directly, preventing a widening gap between hospices and the NHS. Hospices also wish to remain independent but, in order to innovate and support palliative and end-of-life care that is fit for the future, they require more sustainable funding.

Through her dedication, Tracy Flynn has fostered strong relations with NHS Ayrshire and Arran, and I am pleased to hear that the new hospice building is well on track to be opened in autumn or winter 2024. However, not all hospices are as fortunate. I have previously raised those issues in the chamber with the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jenni Minto for meeting me and Tracy Flynn in the Parliament.

We need to commit to supporting our hospices and guarantee that individuals in need can access high-quality care. Our hospices play a crucial part in the healthcare system. As the demand for palliative care increases—indeed, it is predicted to increase by 20 per cent by 2040—and with the NHS under significant strain, the importance of the support provided by charitable hospices has never been more important.

I thank Beatrice Wishart for securing today’s debate, which acknowledges the importance of connectivity in Scotland’s rural areas.

We all agree that reliable transport infrastructure is essential for local communities, economies and tourism. Karen Adam was right to mention Scotland’s net zero targets, because achieving those will depend on better transport services across the country.

The stark reality is that various aspects of Scottish life, particularly our economy, receive less attention in more rural areas. In Ayrshire, there is a pressing need for a much better transport network. Let us take the example of the A77, which serves as the main artery connecting the central belt to Northern Ireland, through the port at Cairnryan.

It is a vital route for businesses, haulage companies, commuters and farmers; it also brings tourists to the beautiful south-west corner of Scotland. That is why it is unbelievable that the average speed on such an important road is just 37.7 mph. The Government’s own “South West Scotland Transport Study” identified the A77 as the slowest A road in the country. It takes an average of 69 minutes to travel a 43-mile stretch.

I absolutely agree with that, and I think that local communities would welcome any extra investment in their infrastructure.

Because the road is so slow, it is not safe; people take unnecessary risks. The number of accidents on the A77 is unacceptable. For years, we have been asking for the A77 to be fully dualled, which would stop many of those dangerous incidents and save lives. I have been speaking about this road since my maiden speech.

Small towns and rural areas are disadvantaged by the out-of-date infrastructure. The lack of investment limits job creation and holds back local businesses and the local economy. What incentive is there to start a business near the slowest A road in the country? What incentive is there for people to move to the area when it takes so long to get to work? Although we all aspire to meet net zero targets, the necessary actions, such as investing in our public transport services, are lagging behind.

Numerous towns in my area, such as Mauchline or Cumnock, could benefit from having a train station but there are currently no trains going south from Ayr, following a devastating fire next to Ayr station.

It has been almost three weeks since the First Minister assured me that I would be provided with a written update on the actions that the Scottish Government has taken on Ayr station, along with full details of its interactions with the local authority. I am still waiting for a response. This might not be an urgent situation for the SNP Government, but it is for the people of Ayrshire.

The closure of the station is having a detrimental impact on local businesses and the local economy. We need to get the trains up and running, which will have the added benefit of helping us to reach net zero. To help people to ditch their cars, we need to provide them with reliable alternative transport options.

Improving rural connectivity is a matter of urgent necessity for the wellbeing of our communities and the prosperity of our local businesses. The SNP Government must make that its priority. Otherwise, it will let down our rural communities and risk missing our net zero targets.

John Mooney, do you want to make any comments?

In that case, I will move on to my second question straight away to bring those aspects together. If anyone else has comments on the first question, they can make those afterwards.

The Scottish Government plans to take over national responsibility for skills planning and to establish a new national model of public funding for all colleges, universities, apprenticeships and training. To what extent will those changes help to address some of the challenges that the college sector faces? Is the pace of those changes quick enough? I am quite sure that everybody will have been thinking for quite a while about what model we actually need. Given the issues that witnesses have raised during this evidence session, are we moving quickly enough? I will bring in Stuart Brown first, because he commented earlier that it is the wrong answer to the right question.

Were you involved in the review in any way? Were you consulted on it?