Official Report

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the second meeting of the Health and Sport Committee in the Scottish Parliament’s fifth session. I ask everyone to switch off their mobile phones, as they interfere with the sound system.

The first item on our agenda is declarations of interests. In accordance with section 3 of the “Code of Conduct for Members of the Scottish Parliament”, I invite Donald Cameron and Colin Smyth to declare interests that are relevant to the committee’s remit.

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, in which I state that I am a non-executive director of two public companies. I am declaring that interest because both companies invest in pharmaceuticals and healthcare products.

I, too, refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I am currently a member of Unite the union and the GMB, and I am a councillor on Dumfries and Galloway Council. When I was elected to Parliament, I was employed by Parkinson’s UK. Although that employment has now ceased, I remain a member of the charity.

Thank you very much. As was agreed at the committee’s previous meeting, we now move into private session.