Committee
Health and Sport Committee 15 December 2020
15 Dec 2020 · S5 · Health and Sport Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Cross-border Health Care (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 [Draft]
In terms of the specifics, the regulations are about people seeking treatment in the EEA, access to which will end on 31 December, so what the convener says is accurate; after that date, people will obviously have to make other arrangements for healthcare. The regulations are to ensure that the law works in practice for everyone, and that nobody falls through the cracks. It is very unlikely that there will be many, if any, people in the category, but it is important that we have mechanisms in place to protect them.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
Under agenda item 2, the committee will consider an affirmative instrument. The instrument has been laid under the affirmative procedure, so we have an evide...
The Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing (Joe FitzPatrick)
SNP
I am pleased to join the committee to discuss the regulations. It remains the Scottish Government’s clear position that the interests of Scotland would best ...
The Convener
Lab
I ask members who have questions to indicate that by typing “R” in the chat box. I will start by asking the minister about the narrow impact of the amendmen...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
The number of people will be very low—possibly, none. A relatively low number of people go through that process. Does John Brunton want to add anything to that?
John Brunton (Scottish Government)
No. The minister is very right that few such people are going through the system at the moment. With Covid, the numbers will be even smaller.
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Good morning, everybody. That was pretty much my question—it was about the number of people who will be affected. I am surprised to hear that the matter was ...
The Convener
Lab
Could the minister also confirm, as far as it is possible to do so at this stage, that what he said indicates that there will be no cover in place after the ...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
In terms of the specifics, the regulations are about people seeking treatment in the EEA, access to which will end on 31 December, so what the convener says ...
The Convener
Lab
Excellent. Thank you very much. There are no further questions from colleagues, so we move to item 3, which is the formal debate on the made affirmative SSI...
The Convener
Lab
I see that no members wish to add anything. Does the minister have anything to add?
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
No—I think that we have covered it. What the instrument does is pretty technical. Motion agreed to.
The Convener
Lab
That concludes consideration of the instrument. We will report to Parliament accordingly. I thank the minister and his officials for their attendance.