Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15128, in the name of Anne McTaggart, on the Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs etc) (Sc...

Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

It is my great privilege to open this debate, to welcome key stakeholders and their families to the public gallery and to speak to my motion that the Parliam...

Mike MacKenzie (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP

Does Anne McTaggart agree that some of the difficulties with the bill, such as those that relate to proxies, are complex issues for which no apparent solutio...

Anne McTaggart Lab

No—I do not agree that that is the case. We have had bills to which up to 200 amendments have been lodged, so I do not agree that the issue of proxies need b...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

I congratulate Ms McTaggart on bringing forward the proposal. She talked about the possibility of extra donors. Does she agree with the figures that the Brit...

Anne McTaggart Lab

Yes, I certainly agree with the British Heart Foundation Scotland. Let us be clear. There is a price to be paid for delaying the decision. I have never said...

The Minister for Public Health (Maureen Watt) SNP

I pay tribute to Anne McTaggart. She and her staff have worked tirelessly to bring us to where we are today—debating organ donation in this chamber and raisi...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

Will the minister take an intervention?

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Maureen Watt SNP

The Government shares the concerns that were expressed in the stage 1 report. In particular, we agree that the appointment of proxies could cause unnecessary...

Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister give way?

Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP) SNP

Will the minister give way?

Maureen Watt SNP

There is a particular concern in the case of adults with incapacity. The bill’s provisions could lock such adults into organ donation, because they could not...

Patricia Ferguson Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Maureen Watt SNP

NHS Blood and Transplant, which currently employs the specialist nurses, also raised concerns about the AIP role. Interruption.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Order.

Maureen Watt SNP

I will take an intervention from John Mason.

John Mason SNP

The minister mentioned specific provisions and aspects of the bill. Can she confirm that her opposition to the bill is based on those details and not on the ...

Maureen Watt SNP

I absolutely can. I will come to that. Although some of the issues could be addressed through amendments at stage 2, others could not be.

Drew Smith Lab

Will the minister give way?

Maureen Watt SNP

If the member would just listen, he might understand why we are objecting to the bill. Interruption.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Order.

Maureen Watt SNP

In particular, the authorised investigating persons provisions cannot be separated from the bill, because the proposed model requires AIPs to police the new ...

Anne McTaggart Lab

What is currently in place for that to happen?

Maureen Watt SNP

In terms of proxies? There is nothing about proxies in the system at present. Although the majority of the committee did not support the propositions in the...

Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Maureen Watt SNP

I can confirm today that, in line with the committee’s recommendation, we are starting preparation for a detailed consultation on further methods to increase...

Anne McTaggart Lab

When?

Maureen Watt SNP

If we are re-elected, we will take the matter forward as an early priority in the next session of Parliament and bring forward legislation as appropriate. W...

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?