Chamber and committees

Thank you, Mr Ewing. Due to your erudition, Latin is used more frequently in this committee than it is in any other committee of the Parliament. In any event—mea culpa, nostra culpa or whatever—are we content to keep the petition open and to pursue the issues as described?

Members indicated agreement.

PE2132, lodged by The Inverness Courier, calls on the Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to publish a clear timeline for dualling the A96 between Inverness and Nairn and for the construction of a bypass for Nairn, and to ensure that that timeline is made public by Easter 2025.

In fact, we last considered the petition after Easter 2025, when we wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport. The response informed us that the Scottish ministers took title of the land acquired through the general vesting declaration—or GVD—process on 21 April.

As for a timetable for progress, the cabinet secretary stated that that would be set in line with available budgets, following completion of the work to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering the schemes. The cabinet secretary indicated that that work would align with the work on assessing the mutual investment model—the MIM—for the dualling of the A9. Therefore, the decision on the use of the MIM for the A96 would be considered alongside or following the A9 decision, which the cabinet secretary expected “later in 2025”. Since then, there have been no further public updates regarding that work.

Do colleagues have any suggestions on how we might act?

Are other colleagues content?

Members indicated agreement.

PE2146, lodged by Jamie Connelly, calls on the Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to allow couples and individuals to purchase altruistically donated eggs from private clinics for use in NHS-funded IVF treatment, and to instruct NHS Scotland to create a clear clinical pathway to support those who use private donor eggs.

We last considered the petition on 23 April, when we agreed to write to the Scottish Government. The Government’s response states that NHS boards collect data on the waiting times for couples who require an altruistic egg donor. The fertility centre with the longest wait time is currently Glasgow Royal fertility clinic, which advises the Scottish Government that couples who require an altruistic egg donor might wait between three to four years for treatment. The wait times at the other three NHS fertility centres are below that time. The Scottish Government therefore believes that, as far as possible, NHS fertility centres are meeting the needs of couples who require donor gametes, which includes donor eggs, and NHS fertility treatment.

The petitioner has written a submission to the committee, which, in the light of the Government’s assertion on the issue, questions why patients are being advised that their potential wait time for eggs is likely to exceed 30 years. He states that there are people and couples who are removing themselves from the assisted conception process due to the information that they are being given on potential wait times for eggs.

Do members have any comments or suggestions for action? I feel that Mr Torrance is bursting to speak.

I apologise. How dare I keep everybody alert?

Our first new petition is PE2188, lodged by Claire Sparrow, which calls on the Parliament to urge the Government to extend the national entitlement card scheme to include ferry travel for people aged 60 and over. The Scottish Government’s response to the petition highlights the publication of “Islands Connectivity Plan—Strategic Approach” in May and the expanded concessionary ferry travel for under-22s only. The response states that the Scottish Government does not consider the ask of the petition to be achievable, as it is not affordable to expand ferry concessions any further to include over-60s at this time, beyond what is already provided.

The petitioner has provided two written submissions, which highlight that ferry travel is essential for older adults living on islands. They sometimes must travel to attend healthcare appointments that are not available locally—I can think of islands even in the west of Scotland where that is the case—to purchase groceries and other necessities, and to maintain social and family connections.

The petitioner states that older island residents are effectively excluded from the same freedom of movement that their mainland counterparts enjoy. She points out that, under the current arrangements, island residents must first pay for ferry travel before they can access a bus service to which free bus entitlement applies. The petitioner states that that is not simply a matter of inconvenience; it is a matter of geographical inequality and social isolation.

Before we consider whether the committee can do anything in the time that is available to us, I ask Mr McArthur whether he would like to offer a few comments.

That is Mr Torrance’s recommendation. Are we content with his proposal?

Members indicated agreement.

That is how the affairs of the United States are conducted, currently.

That brings us to the end of that item. I hope that the petitioner is content with our taking forward the petition on that basis.

With the lower number of specialist centres, would the call on the service not be considerably greater than is the current experience?

Right—so we have two of the posse of co-chairs with us this morning. I am grateful to both of you for joining us. Would you like to make any opening remarks, or are you happy for us to move to questions?