To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS boards have all of their accessible toilets as stoma-friendly toilets. (S6O-05706)

I thank the minister for that, and I thank her for her work during this parliamentary session in helping me to achieve my aim. As a result of my campaign, I am pleased to report that NHS Highland has made good progress in making its accessible toilets stoma friendly. I am also pleased to report that the Parliament has made good progress, too.

Recently, I was pleased to secure a commitment from Morrisons to immediately make all its accessible toilets stoma friendly across the United Kingdom. All that it requires is a mirror, a hook, and a shelf. Marks and Spencer, Asda and Tesco have all agreed to review their policies, and Lidl has committed to making its store specification comply with Colostomy UK’s recommendations from the start of the next financial year.

I am pleased about the Government’s commitment, and I ask the minister to ensure that, if she is re-elected in the next session, she continues my drive on this issue.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. With respect, I find that answer to my question to be troubling, because it is clear that the NZET Committee called for drop-in fuels—not just biofuels but a combination of fuels to allow diesel vehicles to continue to work. I find it difficult to understand why the cabinet secretary does not understand that, given that it was a recommendation in our report. Is there a way in which I can get an answer to my question? At the moment, I have not had one.

Finally, we have the climate change plan, on the penultimate sitting day of the parliamentary session. In the 40 minutes that we have had to look at it—let me be clear that I have always called for that period to be much longer—I have found no clear synopsis of the changes from the draft plan to the final plan. I expected that to be in a few pages in annex 4.

The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee said that the targets for changing heavy goods vehicles to electric HGVs were unachievable. The committee called for drop-in fuels. Is that in the plan?

As this will be my last speech in the Parliament, I hope that the minister will excuse me if I touch only briefly on the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill. It is nothing like what we were promised in 2016. I agree with the minister that crofting needs a simpler future to secure our heritage, our rural population and our national language. Like him, I hope that the bill is just an appetiser and a step towards a future bill. I am sure that he and many other members of the Parliament will be pleased that I will not be here to lodge one or two amendments—if I were here, he could guarantee that I would do so.

I will take some time to offer some comments on my experiences, having had the privilege of being a member of the Highlands and Islands MSP group for the past 10 years. I have found the formulaic nature of the Parliament to be quite difficult and stifling. Everything that we do follows procedures and timings. For me, four-minute speeches kill debate and prove only that the person who is giving the speech can read. Pre-supplied questions to the Government demonstrate the power of good briefings as well as good reading skills.

The never-ending creep of partisan party control is also deeply unhelpful. We should all resent parties choosing who gets supplementary questions and who gets to speak in debates. I wish that the Presiding Officer could make those decisions and call on the person who has the knowledge and the experience.

I strongly believe that we need less party dominance and more individuality. We need to put party politics to one side, because we must remember that we all came here for one reason, which is to make Scotland a better place. Therefore, we have no differences except in the way that we deliver a better Scotland. I wish that we could work more across the Parliament to make that happen.

I have found convening committees in the Parliament for nearly 10 years to be interesting. I absolutely respect the committee system, but it is truly broken. All but a few of the committees have Government majorities that can be whipped to get legislation through. That is not suitable, and it is the root cause of framework and bad legislation. I wish that we could find a way to make committees work more as a revising chamber than they do at the moment.

The other thing that has frustrated me and, I think, many people across Scotland is the constant deflections that we hear. There are cries of, “If only we had the tools and the levers of power that we need.” I gently remind politicians in this Parliament that it is about what is possible, and much is possible in this Parliament. Scotland wants and expects us to make things happen. By all means campaign for more powers—I accept that—but, when it comes to delivery, we should remember the old French proverb that it is bad workmen who blame their tools.

I would like to give three pieces of advice to those who will come here in the next session of Parliament. The first is to be kind. Members should remember that, when they come to work in this building, their job is important and they are less so. They should spare a thought for the 1,700 people who make this place work. Do not ignore them. It is they who make it possible for members to do what they do on a daily basis.

Secondly, make friends across the chamber. I have tried to do that, and it has delivered for me.

Thirdly, focus on one issue. My issue found me. Indeed, campaigning for better health outcomes across the Highlands will not leave me when I leave here.

Presiding Officer, I would like to thank you for your indulgence and that of members. I wish everyone leaving here success. I give my team and my family my heartfelt gratitude for their support. For those who are elected in May, I wish them luck. Making Scotland and all of our lives better is really important. Remember that we who are leaving will be watching.

As this will be my last speech in the Parliament, I hope that the minister will excuse me if I touch only briefly on the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill. It is nothing like what we were promised in 2016. I agree with the minister that crofting needs a simpler future to secure our heritage, our rural population and our national language. Like him, I hope that the bill is just an appetiser and a step towards a future bill. I am sure that he and many other members of the Parliament will be pleased that I will not be here to lodge one or two amendments—if I were here, he could guarantee that I would do so.

I will take some time to offer some comments on my experiences, having had the privilege of being a member of the Highlands and Islands MSP group for the past 10 years. I have found the formulaic nature of the Parliament to be quite difficult and stifling. Everything that we do follows procedures and timings. For me, four-minute speeches kill debate and prove only that the person who is giving the speech can read. Pre-supplied questions to the Government demonstrate the power of good briefings as well as good reading skills.

The never-ending creep of partisan party control is also deeply unhelpful. We should all resent parties choosing who gets supplementary questions and who gets to speak in debates. I wish that the Presiding Officer could make those decisions and call on the person who has the knowledge and the experience.

I strongly believe that we need less party dominance and more individuality. We need to put party politics to one side, because we must remember that we all came here for one reason, which is to make Scotland a better place. Therefore, we have no differences except in the way that we deliver a better Scotland. I wish that we could work more across the Parliament to make that happen.

I have found convening committees in the Parliament for nearly 10 years to be interesting. I absolutely respect the committee system, but it is truly broken. All but a few of the committees have Government majorities that can be whipped to get legislation through. That is not suitable, and it is the root cause of framework and bad legislation. I wish that we could find a way to make committees work more as a revising chamber than they do at the moment.

The other thing that has frustrated me and, I think, many people across Scotland is the constant deflections that we hear. There are cries of, “If only we had the tools and the levers of power that we need.” I gently remind politicians in this Parliament that it is about what is possible, and much is possible in this Parliament. Scotland wants and expects us to make things happen. By all means campaign for more powers—I accept that—but, when it comes to delivery, we should remember the old French proverb that it is bad workmen who blame their tools.

I would like to give three pieces of advice to those who will come here in the next session of Parliament. The first is to be kind. Members should remember that, when they come to work in this building, their job is important and they are less so. They should spare a thought for the 1,700 people who make this place work. Do not ignore them. It is they who make it possible for members to do what they do on a daily basis.

Secondly, make friends across the chamber. I have tried to do that, and it has delivered for me.

Thirdly, focus on one issue. My issue found me. Indeed, campaigning for better health outcomes across the Highlands will not leave me when I leave here.

Presiding Officer, I would like to thank you for your indulgence and that of members. I wish everyone leaving here success. I give my team and my family my heartfelt gratitude for their support. For those who are elected in May, I wish them luck. Making Scotland and all of our lives better is really important. Remember that we who are leaving will be watching.

As this will be my last speech in the Parliament, I hope that the minister will excuse me if I touch only briefly on the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill. It is nothing like what we were promised in 2016. I agree with the minister that crofting needs a simpler future to secure our heritage, our rural population and our national language. Like him, I hope that the bill is just an appetiser and a step towards a future bill. I am sure that he and many other members of the Parliament will be pleased that I will not be here to lodge one or two amendments—if I were here, he could guarantee that I would do so.

I will take some time to offer some comments on my experiences, having had the privilege of being a member of the Highlands and Islands MSP group for the past 10 years. I have found the formulaic nature of the Parliament to be quite difficult and stifling. Everything that we do follows procedures and timings. For me, four-minute speeches kill debate and prove only that the person who is giving the speech can read. Pre-supplied questions to the Government demonstrate the power of good briefings as well as good reading skills.

The never-ending creep of partisan party control is also deeply unhelpful. We should all resent parties choosing who gets supplementary questions and who gets to speak in debates. I wish that the Presiding Officer could make those decisions and call on the person who has the knowledge and the experience.

I strongly believe that we need less party dominance and more individuality. We need to put party politics to one side, because we must remember that we all came here for one reason, which is to make Scotland a better place. Therefore, we have no differences except in the way that we deliver a better Scotland. I wish that we could work more across the Parliament to make that happen.

I have found convening committees in the Parliament for nearly 10 years to be interesting. I absolutely respect the committee system, but it is truly broken. All but a few of the committees have Government majorities that can be whipped to get legislation through. That is not suitable, and it is the root cause of framework and bad legislation. I wish that we could find a way to make committees work more as a revising chamber than they do at the moment.

The other thing that has frustrated me and, I think, many people across Scotland is the constant deflections that we hear. There are cries of, “If only we had the tools and the levers of power that we need.” I gently remind politicians in this Parliament that it is about what is possible, and much is possible in this Parliament. Scotland wants and expects us to make things happen. By all means campaign for more powers—I accept that—but, when it comes to delivery, we should remember the old French proverb that it is bad workmen who blame their tools.

I would like to give three pieces of advice to those who will come here in the next session of Parliament. The first is to be kind. Members should remember that, when they come to work in this building, their job is important and they are less so. They should spare a thought for the 1,700 people who make this place work. Do not ignore them. It is they who make it possible for members to do what they do on a daily basis.

Secondly, make friends across the chamber. I have tried to do that, and it has delivered for me.

Thirdly, focus on one issue. My issue found me. Indeed, campaigning for better health outcomes across the Highlands will not leave me when I leave here.

Presiding Officer, I would like to thank you for your indulgence and that of members. I wish everyone leaving here success. I give my team and my family my heartfelt gratitude for their support. For those who are elected in May, I wish them luck. Making Scotland and all of our lives better is really important. Remember that we who are leaving will be watching.

As this will be my last speech in the Parliament, I hope that the minister will excuse me if I touch only briefly on the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill. It is nothing like what we were promised in 2016. I agree with the minister that crofting needs a simpler future to secure our heritage, our rural population and our national language. Like him, I hope that the bill is just an appetiser and a step towards a future bill. I am sure that he and many other members of the Parliament will be pleased that I will not be here to lodge one or two amendments—if I were here, he could guarantee that I would do so.

I will take some time to offer some comments on my experiences, having had the privilege of being a member of the Highlands and Islands MSP group for the past 10 years. I have found the formulaic nature of the Parliament to be quite difficult and stifling. Everything that we do follows procedures and timings. For me, four-minute speeches kill debate and prove only that the person who is giving the speech can read. Pre-supplied questions to the Government demonstrate the power of good briefings as well as good reading skills.

The never-ending creep of partisan party control is also deeply unhelpful. We should all resent parties choosing who gets supplementary questions and who gets to speak in debates. I wish that the Presiding Officer could make those decisions and call on the person who has the knowledge and the experience.

I strongly believe that we need less party dominance and more individuality. We need to put party politics to one side, because we must remember that we all came here for one reason, which is to make Scotland a better place. Therefore, we have no differences except in the way that we deliver a better Scotland. I wish that we could work more across the Parliament to make that happen.

I have found convening committees in the Parliament for nearly 10 years to be interesting. I absolutely respect the committee system, but it is truly broken. All but a few of the committees have Government majorities that can be whipped to get legislation through. That is not suitable, and it is the root cause of framework and bad legislation. I wish that we could find a way to make committees work more as a revising chamber than they do at the moment.

The other thing that has frustrated me and, I think, many people across Scotland is the constant deflections that we hear. There are cries of, “If only we had the tools and the levers of power that we need.” I gently remind politicians in this Parliament that it is about what is possible, and much is possible in this Parliament. Scotland wants and expects us to make things happen. By all means campaign for more powers—I accept that—but, when it comes to delivery, we should remember the old French proverb that it is bad workmen who blame their tools.

I would like to give three pieces of advice to those who will come here in the next session of Parliament. The first is to be kind. Members should remember that, when they come to work in this building, their job is important and they are less so. They should spare a thought for the 1,700 people who make this place work. Do not ignore them. It is they who make it possible for members to do what they do on a daily basis.

Secondly, make friends across the chamber. I have tried to do that, and it has delivered for me.

Thirdly, focus on one issue. My issue found me. Indeed, campaigning for better health outcomes across the Highlands will not leave me when I leave here.

Presiding Officer, I would like to thank you for your indulgence and that of members. I wish everyone leaving here success. I give my team and my family my heartfelt gratitude for their support. For those who are elected in May, I wish them luck. Making Scotland and all of our lives better is really important. Remember that we who are leaving will be watching.

I will not give in to temptation and say that that might prove too difficult for some landlords. As Dr Allan knows, the current representative of landlords’ interests on the commission is a Gaelic speaker, so theirs is dual-hat position. I very much take his point, but I am trying to make sure that there is an equilibrium between the two roles.

As I made clear earlier, it is absolutely vital that common grazings are used by crofters to ensure that the country meets its net zero obligations, not only in peatland restoration but in woodland planting. Having a landlord representative on the commission would ensure that there was no conflict. Giving the commission the flexibility to have a landlord representative would therefore be helpful.

I know that the minister will say that he can co-opt a landlord representative on to the commission, but I want to take that out of the minister’s hands and put it in the commission’s hands, because I would like to see the power at commission level rather than at ministerial level. I await the minister’s comments on that.

I move amendment 56.

Many care homes do not charge deposits, but when they do, the deposit can be up to three months of costs, which could be in excess of £20,000 per resident. That means that some individual care homes are sitting on, and earning interest on, £1 million-worth of deposits.

It has taken constituents of mine whose relatives have died in care homes so long to have their deposit returned, while trying to mourn their relatives, that they have had to resort to legal action to get the deposit back. Does the First Minister think that that is acceptable? If not, what action will he recommend that my constituents take?