Committee
Health and Sport Committee 27 October 2020
27 Oct 2020 · S5 · Health and Sport Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Human Tissue (Excepted Body Parts) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 [Draft]
Good morning, and welcome to the 27th meeting of the Health and Sport Committee in 2020. We have received apologies from Donald Cameron and Alex Cole-Hamilton. I ask everyone present to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent. The first item on our agenda to be taken in public is item 2, on subordinate legislation. The committee will consider a draft affirmative Scottish statutory instrument. We will have an evidence session on the draft instrument with the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing and supporting officials. Once all our questions have been answered, we will move to a formal debate on the motion that is before us. I welcome Joe FitzPatrick, the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, to the meeting. He is accompanied by two Scottish Government officials: Gemma Grant, a lawyer from the legal directorate; and Sharon Grant, team lead for the implementation of the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Act 2019. Thank you all for joining us today. I invite the minister to make an opening statement.
In the same item of business
The Convener (Lewis Macdonald)
Lab
Good morning, and welcome to the 27th meeting of the Health and Sport Committee in 2020. We have received apologies from Donald Cameron and Alex Cole-Hamilto...
The Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing (Joe FitzPatrick)
SNP
Thank you for the opportunity to make an opening statement. The draft Human Tissue (Excepted Body Parts) (Scotland) Regulations are a necessary component o...
The Convener
Lab
I invite members who have questions to indicate that in the chat box. That would be helpful.
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Good morning, minister. I have a quick question. Although we have the process for exempt and non-exempt organs—you outlined very clearly issues around the tr...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
You make an important point. We are still encouraging people to record their wishes on the organ donation register. Crucially, we are also encouraging people...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Good morning, minister. I have a quick follow-up to Emma Harper’s question. One of the key elements that came out of the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotla...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
The most important thing for the Government to do is to ensure the widest possible awareness of the regulations. We have already started that process. Awaren...
The Convener
Lab
Can you confirm that the responses that you received to the consultation were all supportive of the approach taken in the regulations?
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
It was a public consultation to which anyone could respond. Most of the responses came from experts in the field—as you would expect, given the nature of the...
The Convener
Lab
There are no further questions from members, so we move to the next item on the agenda, which is the formal debate on the SSI on which we have just taken evi...
The Convener
Lab
No members wish to contribute to the debate, and the minister has nothing further to add. Motion agreed to.