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On that point about capacity, the central belt has the greatest population density in Scotland; indeed, the whole area of Lanarkshire and Wishaw has high population density. Would it not make sense to put the units where you have the highest population density, instead of people having to go to Aberdeen, Dundee or such areas?

In the light of evidence from the Scottish Government, I wonder whether the committee would consider closing the petition under rule 15.7 of standard orders on the basis that the Scottish Government is of the view that there is no requirement to change the existing legislation and that the committee has no time remaining to progress the issues that are raised in the petition. I would add that the petitioners might consider bringing a fresh petition on the issue in the new parliamentary session.

I thank all the petitioners. The four petitions in front of us have been heard by the cabinet secretary, and some have been more successful than others, but we should consider the time that the committee has available. Will the committee consider closing the petitions under rule 15.7 of standard orders on the basis that the committee has progressed issues raised on individual petitions as far as possible in this parliamentary session and by raising relevant issues as part of a thematic evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care?

In the light of the evidence and the delays in implementation, I wonder whether we can consider writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to ask for updates on the Scottish Government’s assessment of the most suitable options for the procurement and construction of the A9 dualling project between Inverness and Nairn, including the Nairn bypass scheme. We could also ask for the Scottish Government’s assessment of the mutual investment model for the A96, which was due to be considered this year alongside the MIM assessment of the dualling of the A9, and ask about the Scottish Government’s progress on developing a detailed timeline for the project, as asked for in the petition.

I thank Ann Stark for the work that she has done on the issue. I have read the emails that she has continually sent to keep me and the committee updated throughout the whole process that we have been through.

In the light of the evidence from the Scottish Government, we should consider closing the petition under rule 15.7 of standard orders on the basis that the Scottish Government’s position is that couples who are eligible for NHS fertility treatment should not pay for any aspect of their treatment, including the purchase and use of donor gametes. The Government has noted that NHS assisted conception units in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde run local donor gamete campaigns and that the board is planning several campaigns this year to recruit egg and sperm donors, to reduce waiting times.

In light of the evidence, the committee should consider closing the petition, under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the Scottish Government considers the ask of the petition not to be practical and to be achievable in part only; makes it clear that the Scottish ministers are not responsible for reviewing guidelines or procedures; considers that amending the 2007 regulations is not a practical solution to addressing wait times; and considers that introducing case progress and hearing timelines in primary or secondary legislation would require consultation and come with cost and resource implications. The Scottish Government also points to the steps that have been taken, in conjunction with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, to address the underlying practical reasons for wait times, including the appointment of additional members of the First-tier Tribunal—[Interruption.]

I apologise—I have got my papers mixed up. I would ignore exactly what I said, convener.

Thank you, convener.

In light of the evidence, we should consider closing the petition, under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the Scottish Government has no plans to create a separate concessionary badge or to widen the automatic eligibility criteria for a blue badge; that the blue badge scheme is designed to support disabled people who experience several barriers in their mobility and applies only to on-street parking; and that the decision to offer parking concessions at other types of facilities is a matter for relevant authorities and landowners.

I am back on track, convener. I wonder whether the committee would consider writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to ask her to respond to the petitioner’s points that ferry travel is essential for older island residents to attend healthcare appointments and maintain social connections, and that older island residents are being excluded from the same freedom of movement that their mainland counterparts have.

No.