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From the evidence that has been submitted, I think that there is a huge issue not just with recruitment of new staff but with staff retention. For example, 30 per cent of leavers from NHS Ayrshire and Arran were retiring, and that sort of turnover in your boards is higher than the national average.

First, is retention in the system the significant issue? Secondly, what action is being taken to encourage staff to stay to ensure that we are not facing the twin challenges of having to recruit new staff while trying to keep staff in the system? Perhaps we can hear first the perspective of NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

I am very grateful, convener. Good morning, witnesses.

We have just had a quite important discussion about role models for young women, but much of this comes down to men, their behaviour and how we, as men, change our behaviour and attitudes and attack systemic misogyny. To what extent are role models for men crucial in this? Andy Murray sticks out as someone who is always seeking to challenge the in-built bias that we see. Did you find that women responded to the fact that the onus is on men, too? Are there other examples of good role models in male sport who can be held up as examples of good practice and used to push people to do more?

That was very helpful; it is an issue that we want to consider as part of our work.

I want to ask about horrendous examples of, in particular, sexual violence and misconduct perpetrated by men in sport. That has had an impact on women’s participation, because very often they feel that clubs are not safe spaces. Being part of a wider club is all about identity and belonging, but women to whom I have spoken often do not feel safe in such spaces. Indeed, there are now a number of campaigns to tackle the issue. I know that there are sports clubs out there that do not have policies for handling people who are found guilty of sexual crimes or for handling reports of sexual misconduct. I appreciate that the issue is perhaps not reflected in the report, but I just want to ask the broader question: do clubs—and, indeed, governing bodies—need to go further to give women confidence?

Good morning, minister and witnesses. Could you expand a wee bit further on where the remit might go. Social care is obviously a very hot topic that is of significant interest to the committee. Dame Sue Bruce’s on-going work is on social care and its regulation. Have you factored that view into your planning? Given all that is going on in social care, might the PSC have a regulatory role in that context?

We would certainly recognise that from the evidence that we have heard.

To what extent do you feel that the commissioner, sitting where it does, will have the right powers? People want to see a resolution, which will very often involve some end point of action. Are there enough powers in relation to exerting pressure on the Government, pushing for changes to policy in the NHS or the important learning that has to happen where there have been issues?

I will push a little further on that.

Everybody wants to work in a collegiate fashion and ensure that there is encouragement in relation to change and learning lessons. However, that does not always happen; for example, in large organisations, it can often be difficult to get to that end point of a change in process or taking the learning on board. Although I know that “enforce” is not always a word that we like to use, because we want to see that collegiate approach, is there enough ability to enforce? In social care, for example, we would recognise enforcement as happening in the care home sector or other such places. Is there enough power, or any power, to enforce, if that is required?

We are interested in the appointment process and what alternatives were considered. In evidence from the English commissioner, we heard that the role is a department of Government, which, it was thought, allowed it not to be overlooked. However, the converse of that, with regard to the bill, is the importance of the independence of the role. What is your rationale for choosing that direction?

There is so much to get into with all of these issues. I am particularly interested in the socioeconomic factors that affect, or create barriers for, many women and girls in sport. Do you see that when people have to access materials or kit? Sport is often played in a very particular way that is geared towards men. Many aspects of life are male-centric and dealt with through a patriarchal structure. Does that add cost barriers to access for some sports?

This theme is about the intersectionality of the issues that impact on women and girls in sport. Your report covers various areas, but I am interested in LGBTQ+ young women in particular and their access. How do we support those women to feel secure, supported and safe in sport? You have touched on that already, but I wonder whether you want to add anything to that.

I want to pick up on the previous theme of the discriminatory language that we hear, and the fact that clubs and governing bodies do not always tackle homophobia appropriately. We have seen a lot of focus on that recently. Obviously, that has been more in the male space, and it has been to do with male players in football in particular. However, it is clear that there are issues around homophobic language in women’s football in particular, and there is often stereotyping of women who play football. Did that abuse and that language being a real barrier and clubs and governing bodies maybe not dealing with that appropriately come through in any meaningful way?