Chamber and committees

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide adequate public library services, and the Labour administration of South Lanarkshire Council is overseeing the closure of three libraries in my constituency in Cambuslang, Halfway and Blantyre, which represents 75 per cent of the main libraries in my constituency. That is happening despite residents’ deep concern about the impact that the closures will have.

Does the minister agree that it is crucial that local authorities maintain the strategic overview of library services, even if they are commissioned by arm’s-length bodies, and that meaningful consultation with communities must precede any service changes?

Good morning, and welcome to the 24th meeting in 2024 of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I have received no apologies. We are joined online by Paul Sweeney.

The first item on our agenda is a decision on whether to take in private items 4 and 5, and whether to take equivalent items in private at future meetings. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Who would like to start?

Do witnesses agree with the BMA’s call for the implementation of the Cass review recommendations to be paused, pending the conclusion of the BMA task and finish group, which is expected to be towards the end of this year?

The third item on our agenda is consideration of one negative instrument, the Personal Injuries (NHS Charges) (Amounts) (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2024.

The purpose of the instrument is to amend the Personal Injuries (NHS Charges) (Amounts) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, in order to increase the charges recovered from persons who pay compensation in cases where an injured person receives national health service hospital treatment or ambulance services. The increase in charges relates to an uplift for cost inflation in hospital and community health services.

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 10 September 2024 and made no recommendations in relation to the instrument. No motion to annul the instrument has been lodged.

As members have no comments, I propose that the committee should not make any recommendations in relation to this negative instrument. I note that no member disagrees.

At our next meeting, we will take evidence as part of the committee’s further scrutiny of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill at stage 2.

That concludes the public part of our meeting.

Thank you. Before I start my questions, I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I hold a bank nurse contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

We had Dr Cass at committee on 7 May this year and we asked her about some of the criticisms that there have been of the methodology that she used. I am sure that the witnesses are aware that, since she gave her evidence to the committee, the British Medical Association has voted in favour of a motion which asks the BMA to publicly critique the Cass review, and subsequently the BMA created a task and finish group. To what extent do the witnesses accept that the Cass report is based on scientific methodology, or do you have any concerns?

Our next item is an evidence session on the independent review of gender identity services for children and young people, which was commissioned by NHS England, and the implications for the future provision of gender identity services in Scotland. I welcome Rhoda MacLeod, who is the head of adult services—sexual health, police custody and prison health care—including Sandyford sexual health service, at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; and Tracey Gillies, who is the medical director at NHS Lothian. We also expect Dr Emilia Crighton, who is the director of public health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

We move straight to questions.

With regard to that, how do you anticipate that the provision of services might respond to the findings of the BMA’s evaluation in the event that its findings are at odds with those of the Cass review?

I thank the witnesses for their very helpful evidence. The committee intends to take further evidence on the review of gender identity services for children and young people from the chief medical officer at a future meeting.

I thank Audrey Nicoll for bringing this debate to Parliament.

For the past 50 years, the FSB has grown to become the United Kingdom’s largest membership organisation for small businesses and the self-employed. It provides its members with vital services, including access to finance, business banking, legal advice and specialist support to help their businesses flourish.

Last year, my Rutherglen constituency was home to around 2,000 registered businesses, the vast majority of which are small businesses of all varieties. Those small businesses are the lifeblood of Scotland’s economy and the backbone of our communities across the country. Many are flourishing, because of the uniqueness of what they offer, despite the competition from multinational companies and superstores. Small businesses keep our high streets alive and provide a variety of bespoke and artisan services and personal service that large companies cannot compete with. They are not just sources of employment but places where people can meet, socialise and form deeper connections within their communities.

The Control Panel in Rutherglen, which was established more than 24 years ago as a supplier of computer equipment, repair and upgrading services, provides a much-valued personal service, not only using its expertise to keep customers’ information technology equipment running smoothly but offering bespoke custom personal computers built from the case up. There is also Strachan Craft Butchers in Blantyre, which has been operating for seven years now. At the end of last year, it was named training partner of the year at the industry awards, honoured for its commitment to staff progression and supporting apprentices.

Finally, I would highlight the Wee Gurkha Curry House, a Nepalese restaurant that opened earlier this year in Blantyre. This award-winning, family-run business was previously based in East Kilbride but has now moved to new, larger premises, where it has quickly established itself as a much-loved and appreciated local business. Those are just three examples from my constituency—all at different stages of development—of the kinds of small businesses that make up our communities, and make those communities what they are.

Other small businesses are not only making an impact on the local economy and providing jobs in our communities, but making their mark on the world. Watt Laser, in my constituency, is a small business that is becoming a leader in its field. It exports all around the world, and it is so close to the cutting edge of technology that some of the equipment that it demonstrated when I visited the business recently is one of a kind.

SMEs are often embedded in the communities in which they operate. They range from non-profit-making entities such as credit unions, including 1st Class and Thistle credit unions in my constituency, to businesses such as MDH Recruitment—whose social values see it donate to many local good causes—that are working with local schools and supporting our young people, or are sponsoring local and youth sport.

Resilient, productive businesses are the bedrock of Scotland’s economy, which is why I strongly welcome the fact that helping businesses to succeed lies at the heart of this year’s programme for government. The programme includes specific actions around increasing the number of women who are creating and scaling businesses, and widening participation in business from other groups that are underrepresented. That is a cause championed by my constituent Bayile Adeoti, herself a successful entrepreneur, and those aims are priorities for the FSB, too, which further underlines the valuable role that the organisation plays in supporting its members.

Small businesses thrive when they are well supported, and our wider communities thrive when those businesses are doing well. I commend the work of the FSB in moving towards that aim, and I wish it well for the future.