Hansard

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Discussions)

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests.Scotland’s biggest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has a key role to play in bringing down long waits locally and nationally. Will the cabinet secretary therefore outline the progress that NHS Grea...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

24 Mar 2026

Bank of Scotland Branch Closures

I agree with all that Annie Wells has said about the impact on the community. There is also an impact on local charities, churches and community groups, such as scouts and guides, that take in their fees or collections in cash. They are concerned about how they will be able to...

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

24 Mar 2026

Bank of Scotland Branch Closures

I thank colleagues who signed my motion on the closure of Bank of Scotland branches so that the debate could be brought to the chamber.From Tain in the north to Castle Douglas in the south, 28 Bank of Scotland branches have been closed or are set to be closed this year. Howeve...

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

18 Mar 2026

Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I congratulate Mark Ruskell on bringing the bill to this stage in the Parliament. Should it pass, it will be groundbreaking legislation on protecting animal welfare and will improve the lives of many greyhounds. Does he agree that the ban on greyhound racing will save the live...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I thank Murdo Fraser for taking my intervention, but I want to point out that the organisations and the individual that he quoted are not members of this Parliament. They are not here speaking on behalf of their constituents and on behalf of the people of Scotland. For that re...

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I am finding the language that Murdo Fraser is using deeply offensive, and I say that as someone who will vote against the bill. He should, please, be careful about the language that he uses. Suicide is a very difficult issue to discuss, as he said, but what we are discussing ...

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan

It is hugely encouraging to hear about the ambitious action that the SNP Government is taking through its delivery plan, and I welcome the breadth of the measures that have been detailed by the cabinet secretary. The First Minister has made it clear that ending child poverty i...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Private Healthcare (NHS Consultants)

Can the First Minister therefore outline how, under the SNP and his leadership, Scotland has seen the number of doctors, consultants and nurses increase, and what that means for bringing down waits?

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Private Healthcare (NHS Consultants)

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. As the First Minister referenced, it is worth Brian Whittle noting that Scotland continues to have a substantially lower private healthcare take-up rate than England.Unlike Labour and the Tories, the SNP is no...

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests.It is vital that staff and patients alike feel safe in our NHS estate. Can the cabinet secretary say how the recently announced oversight group will ensure that the board of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde takes ...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I thank Mr Ross for taking my intervention—I am not going to take up too much time. I absolutely concur with what Dr Allan has said, but I can assure Mr Ross that these things were discussed at the committee stages and that members were well aware of what is covered by the Sco...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Will the member give way?

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I have been listening carefully to what Audrey Nicoll has said. Does she recognise that the situation in the jurisdictions that she is talking about—where people go “doctor shopping”, as she labelled it—is not the same as it is here because of our national health service? In t...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I thank the cabinet secretary for letting me intervene, and I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which I did not put on record earlier.Cabinet secretary, can you understand, given that we are being asked to vote on a bill without legislative prote...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I thank Mr Briggs for his indulgence in allowing me to labour this point. I fail to see how having a register of psychiatrists who have undertaken additional training, who are at senior or consultant level and who have been conferred additional powers under the 2003 act can be...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I am intrigued by the piece of legislation that the member is using as an example. It is my understanding that the register of approved medical practitioners that the member refers to was concerned with detaining people and extending their detention under the 2003 act, as well...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I am quite astounded by that characterisation of people who have thoughts of self-harm or suicidal thoughts—that they can never get over that and never recover. I am absolutely astonished at the stigmatisation of those people who express themselves in the most difficult moment...

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Will the member take an intervention?

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

I thank the minister and her officials for attending the meeting this morning.As is currently planned, this will be the final meeting of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee in this parliamentary session. I take this opportunity to thank all those who have engaged with ...

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Again, Ms Harper, the minister is here in relation to the LCM. Please keep your questions in relation to the LCM.

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Again, minister, please make your comments in relation to the LCM that is in front of us.

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Sandesh, do you have any further questions?

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Although I accept that those are important questions, I believe that one of your colleagues will raise them with the relevant minister in a topical question this afternoon. However, the minister who is sitting in front of the committee is here to speak to the LCM, which is qui...

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Your questioning is straying quite far from the limits of the LCM. Is your question in relation to the LCM that the minister is here to speak to?

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Thank you, minister. We now move to questions from Sandesh Gulhane

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

The next item is an evidence session with the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health and supporting officials on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill supplementary legislative consent memorandum, LCM-S6-51b, which was lodged in the Scottish Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for...

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

I thank the witnesses for attending and for their evidence. I suspend the meeting to allow for a short break and the changeover of witnesses.10:48Meeting suspended.10:59On resuming—

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

Brian Whittle has a final question.

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

That would be really helpful, Mr Johnston, because the clinical steering group raised serious concerns and was informed that the step back from SEAN would be effective from 1 April, which is less than 20 days away.Given that it has been acknowledged that the network plays a cr...

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

The vision for SNAP is“to provide an internationally recognised health intelligence service which, by working in partnership with stakeholders to audit clinical care, plays a key role in promoting safe, effective and person-centred healthcare in Scotland.”How does that vision ...

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

The Scottish national audit programme—SNAP—is run by Public Health Scotland. How many audits are carried out into treatment for mental illness?

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

Time is running away from us, so I ask members to keep their questions short and our witnesses to be succinct in their answers.

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

I call Emma Harper.

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

I place on record my entry in the register of members’ interests, which says that I hold a bank nurse contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and that I am a registered mental health nurse.We move to questions from Elena Whitham.

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

Do you recognise that there is a difference between mental wellbeing and mental ill health?

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

On the theme of national strategy and public health priorities, I note that priority 3 in the “Public Health Priorities for Scotland” is to have a“Scotland where we have good mental wellbeing”.However, when I look at the strategy document, I can see only one reference to menta...

The Convener SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Public Health Scotland

Our second item is an evidence session with representatives from Public Health Scotland. I welcome to the committee Councillor Nairn Angus-McDonald, who is a non-executive director; Councillor Julie Bell, who is also a non-executive director; Alastair Boyle MBE, the board chai...

The Convener (Clare Haughey) SNP Committee

10 Mar 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning, and welcome to the 11th meeting in 2026 of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I have received apologies for today’s meeting from Paul Sweeney.Our first agenda item is to decide whether to take agenda items 4, 5 and 6 in private. Do members agree to take...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

05 Mar 2026

Draft Climate Change Plan

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I respectfully ask for your ruling on some of the language that Mr Lumsden has used which, personally, I find offensive. It is not becoming of a member of the chamber.

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

05 Mar 2026

Draft Climate Change Plan

Thanks for the opportunity to contribute to the debate on behalf of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. First, I offer my sincere thanks to all the stakeholders who engaged with the committee throughout its scrutiny of the draft climate change plan. As it is likely th...

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

05 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests.This week, new figures have shown a 6.1 per cent increase in the number of NHS operations performed in the past year. Meanwhile, child and adolescent mental health service waiting times of more than 18 weeks ar...

Clare Haughey SNP Chamber

05 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Face-to-face Banking Services

Yet another bank in my Rutherglen constituency is under threat of closure. By my count, nine bank branches have closed in recent years, which has left Blantyre and Cambuslang as banking deserts.Many individuals, businesses, churches and organisations need access to cash bankin...

1. Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP Chamber

05 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Face-to-face Banking Services

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the banking industry about maintaining access to face-to-face banking services on high streets. (S6O-05595)

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

At our next meeting, we will undertake periodic scrutiny of the work of Public Health Scotland. That concludes the public part of our meeting.11:06Meeting continued in private until 11:35.

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

The fifth and final negative instrument that we are considering today is the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Cancellation of Registration) Order 2026. The purpose of the instrument is to prescribe the circumstances, other than following the giving of an impro...

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

The fourth negative instrument is the National Health Service (Common Staffing Method) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2026. The purpose of the instrument is to amend the National Health Service (Common Staffing Method) (Scotland) Regulations 2024, which specify the staffing ...

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

The third negative instrument is the National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2026, which, as with the previous instrument, are to enable local authorities to calculate an appropriate contribution to be charged to residents in residential acc...

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

The second negative instrument is the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2026, which are to enable local authorities to calculate an appropriate contribution to be charged to residents in residential accommodation for the cost of tha...

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

The next item on our agenda is consideration of five negative instruments. The first is the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026. As part of the 20...

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

That concludes consideration of the instrument. The minister and officials are free to leave as the committee continues its work.

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you, minister, for your opening statement. No member has indicated that they have any questions at this point.The next agenda item is the formal debate on the instrument on which we have just heard the minister’s statement. I remind the committee that officials may not s...

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

The next agenda item is consideration of a draft Scottish statutory instrument that requires approval by resolution of the Parliament before it can become law. The purpose of the instrument is to amend the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Ta...

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Sport and Physical Activity

I thank the witnesses for their evidence. I suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of witnesses.10:45Meeting suspended.10:54On resuming—

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Sport and Physical Activity

Two members have supplementary questions. If they are brief and the answers are brief, we can get them both in.

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Sport and Physical Activity

Your microphone is not on.

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Sport and Physical Activity

It is.

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Sport and Physical Activity

We need to move on, I am afraid. There is quite a lot of interest—we have only 50 minutes left of the session and we have covered only two themes.

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Sport and Physical Activity

I will bring in Jon Doig, since he works at the sharp end of sport and—I hope he will not mind me saying this—he has been there for a while. Is there a trend in terms of where performance athletes are coming from and what pathways they are following?09:30

The Convener SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

Sport and Physical Activity

Our second agenda item is an evidence-taking session on key issues and future priorities in relation to sport and physical activity in Scotland. I welcome Kim Atkinson, chief executive officer of the Scottish Sports Association; Jon Doig, chief executive officer of Commonwealt...