Seòmar agus comataidhean

In my five years as an MSP, I have had the great honour of hearing directly from people across my region and across Scotland. Many of those people have experiences well outside my own, and I value all those interactions and take them very seriously. I therefore want to thank everyone who has contacted me about the bill.

I am here to serve, and that is exactly what I intend to do today. Few groups have affected me as much as those pleading with us to pass the bill. What I have come to understand is that choice at the end of life really matters. The experience is one that any of us might encounter in one way or another; however, until we do, it can seem like an abstract or far-off consideration. We cannot allow ourselves to imagine that we might have to consider assisted dying.

People who have had this experience, or who are having this experience as we speak, are watching us today, awaiting a vote that signals to them that their concerns have been heard and that their lives remain their own. Those same people watched last week as we constructively debated the issues and assessed the amendments—the longest such process that we have had, certainly in my time here at Holyrood. No one can say that the bill has not received serious and considered scrutiny, and I thank my fellow members for that.

I remind colleagues in the chamber that there is widespread public support for legislation on assisted dying. Are we, as parliamentarians in Scotland, going to simply ignore the fact that public opinion is moving towards such reform? I truly hope not. I believe that we need this legislation and that to turn our back once again on compassion and choice would be a grave mistake, driven by fear.

Polling suggests that around 76 per cent of people across my South Scotland region support legislating on assisted dying; indeed, the figure is broadly similar in every region. I want to be clear: this bill is about choice; it has strong public backing; and it has received unprecedented scrutiny and constructive debate. That is how democracy should work—it is the basis for good legislation that will stand the test of time. In that spirit, and in line with the principles that I have strongly held since I worked in the NHS, I will cast my vote today for the people who are suffering now, for those who will suffer in the future and for everyone who simply wants a fair and compassionate option in the likely final six months of a terminal illness.

I entered politics to help people and to empower them, and the bill does both. It might not be a comfortable or an easy subject—I accept that—but this is all about taking a compassionate approach that best serves the complex experiences of so many people across Scotland.

At times, I have been dismayed at how little meaningful legislation makes it through the chamber. A great deal of time, public funds and people’s hopes are invested in our democratic processes, and I fear that, due to excessive caution or needless delay, we do not provide the public with many examples by which they can measure our worth. Today, we can provide such an example.

I will close by offering my thanks to Liam McArthur MSP and his team, who have done such great work in navigating the bill through the Parliament. Without that steadfast and constructive approach, we would not be at this stage to begin with.

I urge my fellow MSPs to please not delay compassion or delay the ability to help others. Let us pass this historic bill and end this session having truly changed Scotland instead of just maintaining the status quo. Let us give dying people the chance to decide their last moment for themselves.

19:19

In my five years as an MSP, I have had the great honour of hearing directly from people across my region and across Scotland. Many of those people have experiences well outside my own, and I value all those interactions and take them very seriously. I therefore want to thank everyone who has contacted me about the bill.

I am here to serve, and that is exactly what I intend to do today. Few groups have affected me as much as those pleading with us to pass the bill. What I have come to understand is that choice at the end of life really matters. The experience is one that any of us might encounter in one way or another; however, until we do, it can seem like an abstract or far-off consideration. We cannot allow ourselves to imagine that we might have to consider assisted dying.

People who have had this experience, or who are having this experience as we speak, are watching us today, awaiting a vote that signals to them that their concerns have been heard and that their lives remain their own. Those same people watched last week as we constructively debated the issues and assessed the amendments—the longest such process that we have had, certainly in my time here at Holyrood. No one can say that the bill has not received serious and considered scrutiny, and I thank my fellow members for that.

I remind colleagues in the chamber that there is widespread public support for legislation on assisted dying. Are we, as parliamentarians in Scotland, going to simply ignore the fact that public opinion is moving towards such reform? I truly hope not. I believe that we need this legislation and that to turn our back once again on compassion and choice would be a grave mistake, driven by fear.

Polling suggests that around 76 per cent of people across my South Scotland region support legislating on assisted dying; indeed, the figure is broadly similar in every region. I want to be clear: this bill is about choice; it has strong public backing; and it has received unprecedented scrutiny and constructive debate. That is how democracy should work—it is the basis for good legislation that will stand the test of time. In that spirit, and in line with the principles that I have strongly held since I worked in the NHS, I will cast my vote today for the people who are suffering now, for those who will suffer in the future and for everyone who simply wants a fair and compassionate option in the likely final six months of a terminal illness.

I entered politics to help people and to empower them, and the bill does both. It might not be a comfortable or an easy subject—I accept that—but this is all about taking a compassionate approach that best serves the complex experiences of so many people across Scotland.

At times, I have been dismayed at how little meaningful legislation makes it through the chamber. A great deal of time, public funds and people’s hopes are invested in our democratic processes, and I fear that, due to excessive caution or needless delay, we do not provide the public with many examples by which they can measure our worth. Today, we can provide such an example.

I will close by offering my thanks to Liam McArthur MSP and his team, who have done such great work in navigating the bill through the Parliament. Without that steadfast and constructive approach, we would not be at this stage to begin with.

I urge my fellow MSPs to please not delay compassion or delay the ability to help others. Let us pass this historic bill and end this session having truly changed Scotland instead of just maintaining the status quo. Let us give dying people the chance to decide their last moment for themselves.

19:19

Our constituents’ wellbeing should not come down to a postcode lottery, but, sadly, dental deserts are far too common, particularly in my South Scotland region. Too many are forced to use their savings on private dentistry. A YouGov poll highlighted in the British Dental Association’s manifesto said that 65 per cent of Scots believe that the Scottish Government should do more to improve NHS dentistry in Scotland. As workforce is a key part of that issue, can the Scottish Government give an update on how it will plan to boost the workforce, specifically given that dentists remain in short supply and that even fewer are willing to treat NHS patients?

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that one in five adults in Scotland are unable to access dental care. (S6T-02955)

We need to view dentistry as part of the preventative health agenda. In places such as Ayrshire and Arran, in my South Scotland region, only 60 per cent of registered patients who live in the most deprived areas have had contact with an NHS dentist in the past two years. The last national dental inspection programme report revealed an alarming gap in oral health between children living in the most deprived areas of Scotland and those living in the least deprived areas. Given that inequalities have widened under this Government, does the Government recognise that access is a system-wide issue and that significant changes must be made to tackle dentistry inequality?

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app has frozen. I would have voted no.

Will the member take an intervention?

Sometimes, when we are discussing this matter, we are not concentrating on the fact that we are trying to offer choice to people with an already diagnosed terminal illness. The conversations with the doctor have to be about the choices that are there for the person. I take the point that was very well made by Edward Mountain, with the benefit of his personal experience. I understand the complexities of emotion, but, at some point, we need to be able to offer choice to the person. If someone has a terminal illness, they are probably already receiving complicated medications and treatments that have complicated side effects and might not save the person’s life; perhaps they are prolonging it or providing pain relief. The doctor has to speak to a person about all those complexities. We need to remember that choice is key in this bill.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the financial sustainability of NHS Ayrshire and Arran. (S6O-05634)