Wales introduced a new band—band I. In Scotland, we only have bands A to H. Are there plans to introduce more bands? What was the benefit of introducing band I?

I thank Fergus Ewing for that intervention—he makes a valid point. We are aware that—as that radio programme highlighted—a number of schools are finding that girls are now not using their facilities because of what may happen in those facilities, and that that is having an effect on them when it comes to eating. The Government should look at that, and I whole-heartedly agree with Fergus Ewing’s comments in his intervention.

As I said, eating disorders are underreported, which may be due to people feeling that their GP may not know how to help them with what is happening. We have heard this evening about the charity Beat and the work that it does, which I whole-heartedly support. We know that eating disorders, which come in many forms, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder, as well as lesser-known conditions, are often misunderstood, mislabelled or even undiagnosed.

It is salient to mention that eating disorders do not affect only the person who has the condition. Friends and family often become carers, with many feeling helpless and heartbroken as they watch their loved one struggle with the disorder.

Eating disorders are one of the largest mental health challenges of our time. Such disorders are about so much more than just food—image, social media and many other issues are in the mix. They can also be a coping mechanism for broader and more complicated issues that have progressed. Beat, which was formerly known as the Eating Disorders Association, does extremely strong and positive work in that regard, and its national helpline encourages and empowers people to seek support and advice.

As we have heard, ensuring that individuals get support for their illness is vitally important. Beat also supports family and friends to ensure that they are equipped with the skills to look after their loved ones. In addition, Beat advocates to increase knowledge of eating disorders among healthcare staff and other relevant professionals.

When people have the courage to come forward, it is important that they get the right help in the right place at the right time. I hope that the minister’s summing-up speech will provide the Scottish Government with an opportunity to indicate the position that it is taking, not least as we need to see much more focus on the issue brought to the fore at a national level. We all want to ensure that every individual who has such an issue is supported, and that they and their families can support one another together and live free of eating disorders.

I am pleased to contribute to this members’ business debate, and I thank Emma Harper for bringing it to the chamber. As we know from the motion, this year’s eating disorders awareness week, which runs until 2 March, is already under way. The theme this year is that eating disorders can affect anybody. I welcome that theme. I feel that it is vital that the great many misconceptions about eating disorders are challenged as vigorously as possible, especially as public misunderstanding and stigma can often prevent people from reaching out for help. Help is available, but we need to make sure that it is provided across all areas and that there is not a postcode lottery, which does happen from time to time.

Not only can eating disorders affect anyone, but it is often the case that they affect those individuals whom we would not expect to be affected. We are currently seeing many younger people being affected, as a result of portrayals and images of what they should or might look like. We know that, at present, around 1.25 million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder, which equates to more than one in 50 people in Scotland. However, the real number is probably much higher, because many cases go unreported.

Lucy Ozanne, you talked about the increase in red meat sales to more than £100 million, which is to be welcomed. Is that because larger firms have managed to adapt better by finding new markets or ventures? It would be good to get your reflection on what has been happening with smaller firms. Have they managed to make progress in navigating some of the difficulties resulting from barriers, obstacles or friction?

We have heard from other sectors that smaller firms have to employ more staff or that extra levels are being added to their bureaucracy or administrative costs, and that managing that has been relatively prohibitive for their progress. It would be good to get your view on that.

Looking to the future, if those businesses have managed to align themselves or group themselves with another support mechanism that helps them through that, that gives them opportunities. Have larger companies taken over smaller companies to absorb them into that process?

Mr Roberts, you have talked about developments and alignments in the process. If Scotland is to keep pace with developments in environmental laws as well as maintain alignment with EU standards, there might have to be frequent amendments in that respect. As we know, we get a tsunami of things regularly from the EU, but things will become more difficult if we are trying to keep that alignment. How do you see that developing? Is it going to be a problem?

In that case, do you think that we have the capacity to achieve that?

Thank you.

Thank you for that. I will come back in if I have anything else to ask.

Lucy Ozanne, you talked about the increase in red meat sales to more than £100 million, which is to be welcomed. Is that because larger firms have managed to adapt better by finding new markets or ventures? It would be good to get your reflection on what has been happening with smaller firms. Have they managed to make progress in navigating some of the difficulties resulting from barriers, obstacles or friction?

We have heard from other sectors that smaller firms have to employ more staff or that extra levels are being added to their bureaucracy or administrative costs, and that managing that has been relatively prohibitive for their progress. It would be good to get your view on that.