It is vital that we have the opportunity to take evidence on the petition. The initiatives and the training that are in place work, but maybe we will find in taking evidence that there are still some loopholes. Taking evidence would guide us on how we might banish those. I am very supportive of the committee’s taking evidence on the petition and of my colleague Edward Mountain.

I also commend and congratulate Callum on his endeavours. He is someone of a young age who has such a passion, and he has not only created a huge opportunity for his own school, but extended that. We on this committee are very much obliged to have him here to explain his views and to give him a platform to talk about his passion.

The petition raises a very live issue in relation to COP26. The idea of trying to encourage young people at primary school to be involved in eco-committees has been a real success. I think that Callum will be a real pioneer for the future. I look forward to hearing from him when he has the opportunity to come here.

I concur with Mr Sweeney’s comments. There has been an increase in antisocial behaviour involving vandalism and graffiti in a number of locations across Scotland. It would be good to seek more information. It would be useful to contact the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to ask about its policies and procedures, because it continues to look after and maintain many war memorials across our towns, cities and villages. It is vital that we acknowledge that such memorials are a lasting memory and should be protected. They are protected, but it would be useful to find out further information.

I agree. There is no doubt that individuals in the sector have suffered, and I am sure that other members will, like me, have received correspondence from many who feel that they fell into the gaps that opened up with the moves to ensure that others in the sector were being supported. The self-employed really had problems, and the petitioner has indicated at length the difficulties that they face.

I certainly want the petition to be progressed in some way and suggest that we take views from the Scottish Government and, indeed, the UK Government on how things are being managed. As I have said, the people in question certainly suffered, and we need to learn lessons that can be applied to the industry. Without the opportunity to be involved in the travel sector, they fell between a rock and a hard place, and it is important that we support them now.

I agree with Jackie Baillie that to get submissions from organisations on the impact would be useful. The Scottish Government has the opportunity to review but those organisations had to live through what took place and it is important to get their views and opinions, because that will give us a steer from the organisations and individuals that were most impacted.

There is a mixed picture of the effects of rent control policies that have been introduced around the world. In Sweden, they have reportedly led to a second-hand market of sublet properties.

Several industry experts have warned that rent controls are not the answer to Scotland’s housing crisis. What analysis has been carried out of the potential benefits and pitfalls of the proposed rent control system?

Thank you for your passionate opening statement. You have lived experience and you know exactly what the issues are. As you rightly identified, individuals’ dreams, aspirations and hopes can be dashed if the transition is not seamless—I have worked in the sector and have seen that. It can have an impact on people for the rest of their life. There are real opportunities to try to manage and support the process of transition.

Is there a possibility that, by not carrying out another consultation, opportunities might be missed? Another consultation might strengthen the case and give more opportunity for individuals to express their views. As you say, every time that we progress, some things are left behind and do not progress, for various reasons. Do you believe that, if you do not do another consultation, you might miss something out?

In the past, there has been discussion about loopholes. One issue is how to tighten up things to ensure that there are no loopholes in any new legislation, should a bill be agreed to, and that there are no unseen consequences or problems, or aspects that are open to manipulation. That would be about ensuring that, in relation to the organisations that you mentioned, things cannot, once again, be hidden or put into a different context.

It would be good to get a view on how you think that issue should be tackled, not least because of the potential for there to be that “dark underbelly” that you mentioned—that is, that these practices will be contained, managed and manipulated so that, on the surface, everything looks like all is going well and that things are being done as they should, while underneath there are still concerns about people’s sexuality, a ban is being flouted, loopholes are being used and individuals are still being put through the conversion process.

As the last member of the committee to speak, I, too, extend my thanks to each and every one of you for your strong and powerful testimony. It is right that you are here to give that testimony today, and this has been a useful and enlightening session.

There is no doubt that there is willingness to have legislation to end conversion therapy, but there are also complexities in how that legislation could and should work. A UK ban has been suggested, but it has also been suggested that more could be done in the devolved legislatures. I would like to tease out that important element with the witnesses.

The memorandum of understanding coalition against conversion therapy has suggested that there should be an expert reference group, which would bring together legal, academic and mental health professionals and organisations. If there was such a group, there might also be a participatory role for your organisations in the faith and religious sector, and an opportunity for your views and opinions to be heard by it.

Should the ban be UK-wide? Are there opportunities for Scotland to take a pioneering approach, as Jayne Ozanne has indicated? If more is to be done, might the committee consider a more holistic approach, involving joint discussions with experts and organisations such as yours? In the evidence that we have taken, we have heard that there is a level of acceptance in some groups. Should those groups be at the table? Some feel that they perhaps should not be at the table. It would be good to get your views on how you perceive that.

I am delighted to be able to participate in the debate on Clare Adamson’s motion, and I pay tribute to her for the work that she has done.

It is right that we acknowledge UK malnutrition awareness week. The condition, which is also known as undernutrition, has been noted as a substantial public health issue, with one in 10 older people in Scotland being at risk of it or living with it. National Records of Scotland’s latest mid-year population figures suggest that almost half a million people in Scotland are over the age of 75 and can be affected by the issue.

As my party’s shadow spokesperson on equalities and older people, and having experience of working in the sector, I have a good understanding of the disadvantages, effects and causes of the condition. It is important that we understand some of the reasons behind the condition because it affects the person, their family and the carers. There is also no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a terrible, adverse effect on the older population, among whom loneliness and isolation have grown massively during the pandemic. With that in mind, we must focus on not only malnutrition but food insecurity, which is a subject that has been highlighted in the Parliament many times.

We cannot lay the blame for the situation completely at the pandemic’s door because many organisations and individuals in the care sector and the third sector have been highlighting the issue. I spoke on the topic back in January 2019 in the Parliament when we tackled some of the issues of social isolation and loneliness for the older generation. I was supportive of the strategy that the Government published at that stage, and I was also at pains to emphasise that the public health concern needed to be addressed with financial support and that we needed to acknowledge that it was a problem in many sectors and for many people in our communities.

It is a matter of urgency that we tackle the issue as we go forward. I pay tribute to the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition—BAPEN—for highlighting the point that everyone should look out to try to find people who are at risk. Its ask, look, listen campaign is vital. We have already heard about Food Train, which is phenomenal at trying to support individuals. It works in areas of Clackmannanshire and Stirling in my region, and it has been a lifesaver for many individuals.

Back in 2017, the then Minister for Public Health and Sport, Aileen Campbell, talked about the new diet and obesity strategy. We must consider diet and obesity in the wider context of access to food. That strategy also encompasses malnutrition, especially within our older population. BAPEN has identified the issue. We have talked about Food Train and its Eat Well Age Well project. That organisation delivers meals to hundreds of people in communities throughout Scotland.

Access to nutrition is a major concern, especially in our older and vulnerable population, even when such people are hospitalised or living in a care home. It also causes major concerns when they are discharged back home. Access to affordable food also requires further attention. The social renewal advisory board has talked about that.

We all have a duty of care to look after our constituents and to provide support to them. By doing that, we will inform them and provide opportunities for good food and nutritional choices. All that will help us to assist and to stop putting undue strain on the community health and social care services in our constituencies and regions.