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Subsection (b) was included because we feel that it is important not to deny advocacy to the group of people who are most vulnerable—those who are so affected by their mental disorder that they cannot express an opinion on matters affecting them.We agree that people can be too ready to assume that a person with a mental health problem or a disability cannot express a view.
We now have approval in principle for sites in north-east Fife.The wider role of Communities Scotland is rather more complicated—anyone who figures out the end result will get a prize at the end of the day.
The last thing that I would want the Parliament to do would be to prevent a member from expressing a view on such a matter. It would be in the gift of the Presiding Officer at First Minister's question time.
Dr Liddle spoke about starting at nursery school—which is where we should be starting—with a health visitor who would follow a child through their life.
I am pleased that representatives of two local authorities have come along to express their views. Members may wish to note that we asked the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to set out a generic local government position on the petition.
That situation has arisen not because anyone has failed to express the point but because it is clear that some ambiguity is left in statute in that respect.
However, it is one thing to have a memorandum of understanding and another to have a right that is expressed in the legislation. If the Executive believes that it should hold such rights, why should they not be included in the bill?
I welcome the majority of the views that have been expressed today. I will begin with Annabel Goldie's dignified and appropriate remarks, which highlighted several relevant issues.