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The Government always intends to ensure that because, from a practical point of view, it is better for us to know where we stand.

We are undertaking a review of information sharing. We hoped to have progressed it more than we have so far, but we are aiming to engage shortly with parliamentary officials with a view to establishing a short-life working group to seek their input on it. We are at the stage where we will be engaging with parliamentary officials to bring that to the next stage.

We probably hoped to be a lot further on than we are but, unfortunately, for various reasons, we are just a wee bit behind where we should have been.

I can see how certain members of the committee would look at a framework bill and think that, but the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill is about co-design. It is a new way of thinking about how we design policy, a process and a system. The bill gives us the flexibility that the Government needs to do that so that we can get engagement with stakeholders and those who use the systems and processes that you and the convener have been talking about with the Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Bill, and so that we can get their expertise at that level.

I can understand, from the point of view of a member of this committee, how some would cynically think that it is a power grab by the Government to do what it wants when it wants, but that is not what this is about. It is never about that anyway, but this is about ensuring that, on the national care service, all stakeholders have had all kinds of engagement and helped us to co-design the service.

I have not had a chance to look at the committee’s report on the bill, but I am sure that the minister, Kevin Stewart, will have a look at it and that he will probably be in touch. He has already spoken to this committee and emphasised again how important it is that he works with the committee. He wants to work with you to ensure that the bill and the national care service are all that they can possibly be.

I do not believe so, having been a member of this committee. I do not see that anything disappears, Mr Mundell. Everything gets looked at and debated. I really believe that this is the best way forward for this specific process. However, I will look at your committee’s report. As I said, I have not had a chance to do that yet. I believe that it was published only on Thursday or Friday last week, so I have not yet had a chance to read it, but I will look at it and take it from there.

I will bring in Susan Herbert to answer that.

I will get Susan Herbert to answer that, if that is okay.

I would be unable to give you any kind of idea of whether it would be next week, next year or two years down the line because, currently, that is the way things are. It would be a problem to commit myself at this stage. I am quite happy to look at it and try to see how long it might take, but it would be very difficult for me to give you any kind of timescale because of the way things are at the moment with the relationship.

It is hard to give you that level of detail. We will try to work with this committee in particular to ensure that you are aware of anything that is coming through. It would be difficult for me to commit myself at this stage. I would be guessing and trying to pin the tail on the donkey if I said that I could work out when that date would be. As soon as we have further information, I will be happy to share that with the convener.

The proposals are being seriously considered and we are reviewing which ones we will implement. You mention the Parliament’s idea and people of Scotland’s idea of what we should do. We are living in a cost of living crisis, and there are only so many bills that I can get in the timetable between now and the end of the session. It is not that we do not see the Scottish Law Commission bills as important; we need to prioritise what we will do, and we are still working towards ensuring that the Government’s programme is delivered.

I will try to put your mind at rest, Mr Mundell. We continually look at what we could introduce, and we engage to ensure that we see what could be relevant to various aspects of life in Scotland and how we can implement SLC bills. They are not being forgotten about. They are not going down a big, dark hole somewhere in the Scottish Government.

We are constantly looking at the matter, but, again, it comes down to the Government’s prioritisation and how we move forward. We have only so many bill spots between now and the end of the session. I know that, in year 2, that almost sounds as though we are wishing away our lives, but, as the Minister for Parliamentary Business, I have to consider that, as well. They are not being forgotten about.

Good morning. I thank you, convener, and the committee members for asking me along.

My speaking note says to welcome Jeremy Balfour back to the committee but Mr Kerr is here as a suitable substitute. He and I seem to follow each other around the building regularly. Some more Stephen Kerr-George Adam time is never a bad thing.

On more serious matters, as we all know, the committee plays a hugely important role in scrutinising all legislation. I welcome the close working relationship that we have built since I became Minister for Parliamentary Business and hope that it continues.

I do not have to remind committee members that the first year of this session of the Parliament has been very challenging. It began with the pandemic still being a major focus and ended with the situation in Ukraine. I record my thanks to the committee, its officials and, indeed, the Parliament for the constructive way that they have worked with Government over that extremely busy and challenging time. Despite the challenges, a significant amount of legislation has been introduced: 16 bills, 328 Scottish statutory instruments, 21 legislative consent motions and 32 United Kingdom statutory instruments.

The Government recognises the concern arising from the use of the made affirmative procedure during the pandemic and acknowledges the committee’s inquiry into its use. We have a good record of ministers working with the Parliament to establish administrative processes to enhance scrutiny even when urgent action is required. I am pleased that, further to the committee’s recommendations on the made affirmative procedure and enabling powers in the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill, the Covid-19 Recovery Committee has endorsed significant amendments to the bill that strengthen parliamentary safeguards. I know that this committee is considering a supplementary delegated powers memorandum on the bill at this meeting.

Since becoming Minister for Parliamentary Business, I have come to appreciate the volume and breadth of information that we share with not only the committee but the Parliament as a whole. For example, every week, we provide a forward look of SSIs that are to be laid in the following two weeks. We also provide weekly updates on UK SIs, monthly updates on LCMs and monthly updates on bills.

It may be that there is still further information that we could helpfully share. Therefore, I have asked my officials to undertake a strategic review of the data and information that we already provide to the Parliament. I want the exchange of information to be as useful and efficient as possible and, of course, my officials will engage with parliamentary officials to progress that.

As always, convener, I look forward to the committee’s questions.