Following consideration of this session against the published pre-election guidance and in the context of this area being a subject of debate during the pre-election period in recent weeks, it is with regret that in line with the guidance neither I nor my senior clinical officers will now be able to attend this session on behalf of the Government on 18 June or on another date during the pre-election period. The pre-election guidance published by the Scottish Government on 24 May 2024 states that “Civil servants should not undertake any activity which could call into question their political impartiality or give rise to the criticism that public resources are being used for party political purposes”.