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I agree. There is no doubt that individuals in the sector have suffered, and I am sure that other members will, like me, have received correspondence from many who feel that they fell into the gaps that opened up with the moves to ensure that others in the sector were being supported. The self-employed really had problems, and the petitioner has indicated at length the difficulties that they face.

I certainly want the petition to be progressed in some way and suggest that we take views from the Scottish Government and, indeed, the UK Government on how things are being managed. As I have said, the people in question certainly suffered, and we need to learn lessons that can be applied to the industry. Without the opportunity to be involved in the travel sector, they fell between a rock and a hard place, and it is important that we support them now.

I agree with Jackie Baillie that to get submissions from organisations on the impact would be useful. The Scottish Government has the opportunity to review but those organisations had to live through what took place and it is important to get their views and opinions, because that will give us a steer from the organisations and individuals that were most impacted.

Thank you for your passionate opening statement. You have lived experience and you know exactly what the issues are. As you rightly identified, individuals’ dreams, aspirations and hopes can be dashed if the transition is not seamless—I have worked in the sector and have seen that. It can have an impact on people for the rest of their life. There are real opportunities to try to manage and support the process of transition.

Is there a possibility that, by not carrying out another consultation, opportunities might be missed? Another consultation might strengthen the case and give more opportunity for individuals to express their views. As you say, every time that we progress, some things are left behind and do not progress, for various reasons. Do you believe that, if you do not do another consultation, you might miss something out?

In the past, there has been discussion about loopholes. One issue is how to tighten up things to ensure that there are no loopholes in any new legislation, should a bill be agreed to, and that there are no unseen consequences or problems, or aspects that are open to manipulation. That would be about ensuring that, in relation to the organisations that you mentioned, things cannot, once again, be hidden or put into a different context.

It would be good to get a view on how you think that issue should be tackled, not least because of the potential for there to be that “dark underbelly” that you mentioned—that is, that these practices will be contained, managed and manipulated so that, on the surface, everything looks like all is going well and that things are being done as they should, while underneath there are still concerns about people’s sexuality, a ban is being flouted, loopholes are being used and individuals are still being put through the conversion process.

As the last member of the committee to speak, I, too, extend my thanks to each and every one of you for your strong and powerful testimony. It is right that you are here to give that testimony today, and this has been a useful and enlightening session.

There is no doubt that there is willingness to have legislation to end conversion therapy, but there are also complexities in how that legislation could and should work. A UK ban has been suggested, but it has also been suggested that more could be done in the devolved legislatures. I would like to tease out that important element with the witnesses.

The memorandum of understanding coalition against conversion therapy has suggested that there should be an expert reference group, which would bring together legal, academic and mental health professionals and organisations. If there was such a group, there might also be a participatory role for your organisations in the faith and religious sector, and an opportunity for your views and opinions to be heard by it.

Should the ban be UK-wide? Are there opportunities for Scotland to take a pioneering approach, as Jayne Ozanne has indicated? If more is to be done, might the committee consider a more holistic approach, involving joint discussions with experts and organisations such as yours? In the evidence that we have taken, we have heard that there is a level of acceptance in some groups. Should those groups be at the table? Some feel that they perhaps should not be at the table. It would be good to get your views on how you perceive that.

Minister, you mentioned the role of the health and social care partnerships, but I want to tease out what part the local authorities play. Have you identified any councils that require more support in order to provide these services or in which this is a key area of concern?

Has it been recommended or proposed that autism services be placed with the proposed national care service? If so, where would responsibility for scrutiny and accountability lie?

Obviously, the pandemic has had huge implications for the NHS, with individuals not having the opportunity to have operations. What is the Government doing to ensure that people do not have to seek private treatment? With the mesh situation, individuals had to seek private help. Due to the waiting times and lists, they could not get an opportunity, and they felt that they had no option other than to go private to ensure that they received the care that they required.

I am delighted to join the committee, convener, and I have no interests appropriate to this committee to declare.

I concur with Bill Kidd and David Torrance. I think that the petition raises important questions about trust in statistics and data. It gives us an opportunity to seek more views and opinions from stakeholders so that we can make progress on the matter and take a measured approach to what is a very sensitive and delicate situation. It is important that we engage in that way and try to gain as much information as we can so that a more balanced approach can be taken in the process.