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The advantage of involving the private sector is that it provides new sources of ideas. Recently, I visited some prisons, including private finance prisons and publicly run prisons, and talked to prisoners, prison staff and managers.
Steve Farrell and his team helped to ensure that the committee's work, both in the Parliament and during our external visits, was done efficiently.Dave Petrie's comments were helpful.
However, I advise him of the other side of the argument, which was brought to me by four students at one of my local high schools. They informed me of their visit to an open day at Glasgow Caledonian University.
Is the minister aware of the excellent work being done at a day clinic at Borders general hospital? I know that the minister has visited it. It specialises in clients who have Parkinson's and treats them clinically and holistically.
Diabetes services in Dundee are a shining light for services in other parts of Scotland and I hope to visit them in the near future. Kate Maclean is right to highlight the inconsistency of treatment across Scotland, which other members have noted.
Phase 1 of the inquiry, which runs from September 2004 to June 2005, involves a series of visits in Scotland to hear from people who are affected by disability, from academics and from service providers.
That said, I am perfectly happy to take suggestions from committee members about anyone else we should take evidence from.I should say that I have been visited by individuals connected with the Scottish tribunal appointments system, not in my capacity as committee convener but in my normal political capacity.