Carol Mochan
Scottish Labour · Scotland
“I think that we could take a different approach in that area. A number of older people have been convicted of terrible crimes, but their risk to the general population is much lower than it used to be because of their age and circumstances.”
“Industrial conditions such as those that my constituents were exposed to show what the approach of big business and the insurance giants has been.”
“I am interested in the point about upstream measures, and I am particularly interested in women, because we know that they should not always enter the criminal justice system and prisons in particular. Perhaps there is more that the cabinet secretary could do in that area, because there is a lot of research on it.”
“Those who were members during the previous session of Parliament will know not only that Richard Leonard was a passionate and committed campaigner but that his speeches were also very passionate—as passionate as his beliefs. I thank him for his time in the Parliament, for his guidance and for his commitment to economic justice.”
“I support the Cape must pay campaign, which calls on the former asbestos manufacturer Cape plc, now Altrad, to donate £10 million to mesothelioma research. As my colleague Jackie Baillie said, that is a small amount to expect. Such companies and the state owe a great deal to individuals, families and communities.”
“For a number of years, I was a director of Turning Point Scotland, which is Scotland’s biggest social welfare charity, although I am not any more. Fifteen years ago, we commenced an initiative called housing first, which is primarily a way of dealing with homelessness.”
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“People mainly talked about their experiences, but one thing that they mentioned that the Parliament will need to look at is self- directed support—the expectations for it and where it has failed people. I am aware of the time. Before I close, I add that I was lucky enough on that day to have not only Eilidh but a young woman from Cumnock called Emma McEwan who was with me observing. Emma hopes to work with young people. She found it fascinating to be around people in a situation where disabled people were in control of the narrative and the agenda. Emma reported back that that gave her a better understanding of everyday life for people with disabilities and the barriers that they encounter. We must make sure that that happens more in the future. 13:13”
“I was lucky enough to co-chair a group with a fantastic young woman, Eilidh Henderson, who generously shared her experience and that of her family during our session on social care. Eilidh took the lead on the first online breakout session, which was a first for the summit. I note that Eilidh would be happy for me to say that, after a couple of technical problems, the session went very well. It was facilitated technically by the Parliament staff. Eilidh and I made sure that an extra breakout was added because we recognised that being on screen for such long periods of time can be difficult and exhausting for people. All the feedback so far has suggested that the online option helped allow others to be in that breakout session and that the experience overall was positive.”
“The chamber was packed with so many people. The summit took place on 21 February, in person at the Scottish Parliament and online, and brought together disabled people, carers, advocates and allies to reflect on the progress and, importantly, to look at the future. As Scotland heads towards the next election, it is so important to ensure that disabled people are part of the conversation. The summit offered an opportunity to invite disabled people in Scotland and their organisations to discuss ideas for change. What would they like there to be in place to help the Parliament to achieve or create a more inclusive society? Questions were asked about the progress they wanted to see in relation to transport, social care, inclusive education, social security and, importantly, voting.”
“While researching for this debate, I read about the history of the slogan “Nothing about us without us”, which Jeremy Balfour mentioned. It relies on the principle of participation and has been used by disabled people’s organisations throughout the years as part of the global movement to achieve the full participation and equalisation of opportunities for, by and with disabled people. We can all agree that we have made advances, but that we have not yet achieved all of the slogan’s aims. We should understand that that is part of how we move forward. I really wanted to speak in this debate, because I was lucky enough to attend the second Scottish Parliament disability summit, which was held here with a large number of groups representing disabled people, young people with disabilities and young people caring for loved ones with disability.”
“I thank Jeremy Balfour for bringing the debate to the chamber. I take the opportunity to thank Jeremy Balfour for all his work and contributions in the area. The member is a champion of the cause and is very vocal about these issues, and I mean that in the best possible way. He also has practical ideas on how we break down barriers, engage with disabled constituents and fully include people in decision making, and I thank him for that work. Over the five years that I have been in the Scottish Parliament, I have been pleased and encouraged by members’ engagement with the disabled community, including those from a range of backgrounds and with a range of disabilities. However, as has been mentioned by others, that does not mean that we are doing enough or doing things in the right way.”
“In NHS Ayrshire and Arran—the health board that covers the area where I live—the A and E department of Crosshouse hospital exceeded capacity by 50 per cent in December 2025. Staff were left with no choice but to treat patients in corridors. It is important to be clear that that was not just a winter issue—Crosshouse A and E exceeded capacity in seven months last year.”
“I thank my colleague Jackie Baillie for bringing this important debate to the chamber. In 2007, the Scottish Government set a target that 95 per cent of patients should wait no longer than four hours to be seen and admitted, discharged or transferred. However, data that was released this morning revealed that, as of the end of January, there were recorded waits of more than eight hours and more than 12 hours, which are the highest since records began. More than 15 per cent of patients spent more than eight hours in A and E, while 8 per cent spent more than 12 hours there—both of those figures are well above the monthly average for 2025. I know that the cabinet secretary understands that it is our responsibility to bring such issues to the chamber.”
“To ask the Scottish Government, following Orbex entering administration, what the likelihood is of the public purse receiving a return on the money invested in the company by the Scottish National Investment Bank. (S6O-05550)”
“I pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the blitz and to the local people who immediately came to people’s aid in many different ways. I also pay tribute to the communities that went on, are resilient and continue to demand that Governments do better. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I invite Graeme Dey to wind up the debate. 19:09”
“Just as the pit closures were an insult to the miners who contributed so much to Scotland’s culture and economy, deindustrialisation in the years after the war led to Clydebank experiencing generations of unemployment, a lack of investment by Governments and an accepted decline in services. Neither the miners nor the shipbuilders created those conditions; rather, their communities fell victim to the social and economic problems that we all know about and have observed. Governments had no contingency plans, provided no support and had no sympathy for communities as times changed and decisions were made that removed opportunities from people in those areas. Working- class communities continue to face those realities. I pay tribute to the people of Clydebank.”
“The devastation happened in 1941, but I have a childhood memory of sitting in the back of a car—probably in about 1977, more than 30 years later—and asking about a little side building that had an old fireplace and wallpaper that seemed out of its time. My papa replied, “Yes, that came down in the blitz.” That was many years later, so I now think to myself that the Clydebank community, like so many working- class communities, was somewhat abandoned during the rebuilding in favour of perhaps more affluent and less industrial communities. My final point is how similar that feeling is to the feeling in my community. I live in a working-class ex-mining area. It was not bombed in 1941, but it has definitely been abandoned at times by Governments.”
“I want to raise three points in my reflections on the Clydebank blitz. First, as my Uncle Jim reminded me last night, the Government covered up what was happening at the time. The media reports cited only a town in western Scotland, while official censorship suppressed casualty figures and imagery of the near-total destruction of the town’s housing. Photos were cropped and film crews were not permitted in. In this day and age, with immediate films, Instagram and all the social media that we now have, it seems unbelievable that such restrictions were able to be put in place. My second point relates to the rebuilding of Clydebank after the war.”
“On the other hand, Auntie Agnes did speak about the nights themselves—about the noise, the shelters and the devastation as they emerged from the bunkers. I do not think that I fully understood the events until I was much older. I know now that the Clydebank blitz was one of the most destructive air raids in Scotland during the second world war and had lasting impacts on the town and its people. As others have said, the brutal attack occurred over two nights, on 13 and 14 March 1941. People were killed and infrastructure was damaged, and pretty much the whole population of Clydebank became homeless basically overnight. On reflection, I wonder why my elders did not describe it in that way to me. Perhaps, like so many working-class people throughout history, they accepted the things—often, brutal things—that happened to their communities.”
“I thank Marie McNair for bringing the debate to the chamber. People might ask why a member from Ayrshire who represents the South Scotland region would ask to speak in a debate about the Clydebank blitz. The truth is that my dad, Bill Mochan, is a Bankie. He has not lived in Clydebank for a long time, but he has always maintained his connection to the town and has spoken with pride, humour and love for Clydebank. My nana and papa, Annie and Jimmy Mochan, and my Auntie Agnes all lived through the two nights of bombing. My nana and papa did not often speak about those evenings—there was nothing about the fear, the loss of life or the effect that the bombing must have had on them emotionally. Rather, they spoke occasionally about the loss of buildings or the loss felt by other families.”
“On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. Apologies—I could not get logged in. My vote is no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Mochan. Your vote will be recorded.”
“Jenni Minto: I underline to Carol Mochan that the review of rural maternity services has not been stopped or cancelled; it is one of the key areas of progress that we will make with the work of the maternity and neonatal task force. The cabinet secretary has engaged with NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and the Scottish Government has continual engagement with rural health boards.”
“Yesterday, the Patient Safety Commissioner warned that maternity services “urgently” need to be “redesigned to address safety concerns”. She also warned that practical measures to ensure proper risk mitigation for rural maternity services have not been fully explored. The maternity and neonatal task force overruled the commissioner’s ask that rural maternity care be reviewed separately. That is disappointing, because we know that rural healthcare requires a distinct approach. Why was the commissioner’s ask overruled? Will the Government give an update on its recent engagement with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding maternity services in rural Stranraer?”
“When I met representatives of Beat in my office, they explained to me how its report “There’s no place like home: The case for intensive community and day treatments for eating disorders” shows an urgent need to expand access to intensive community and day treatments and to ensure that such services are available to people of all ages across the UK, so that they can be seen frequently. That is perhaps a different approach from the models that we have at the moment, whereby people might be seen only weekly. Beat also commented on the importance of recovery within the community and noted that things such as eating out are done better through those kinds of networks and services. Given the pressure of time, I will stop there. I look forward to hearing the minister’s response to this evening’s debate, which I have really enjoyed. 20:32”
“We need to highlight the importance to people of having that sense of community. Like others, I acknowledge the comprehensive recommendations set out in the 2021 national review of eating disorder services, and I accept that a lot of work on this issue has been undertaken by Government and by organisations such as Beat. However, I agree that we must continue to advance, and at some pace. In that respect, I would like to raise the issue of community and local services that people can access.”
“When I talk about a team, I mean being together wherever that is, whether it is with our close family or close friends, with an official care team or with people who may not know much but reach out to us, such as those who are part of a local charity or community group. Sometimes, even the kindness of strangers can make a difference. Therefore, I find the focus this year on community to be very important, and I want to amplify what Elena Whitham, the member who brought this debate to the chamber, said. We, as politicians, should be part of that community, too, and we must do our bit as legislators and policy makers to provide support. In fact, when I was looking through some information on this matter, I noted that Beat has talked about having the widest community possible and mentions the role that online communities can play.”
“In researching for the debate, I was pleased to see that Beat’s online page talks about “celebrating the power of community” and the real, important role that “family, friends, and other support networks play in helping someone feel supported, understood, and never alone on their journey from seeking help, undergoing treatment and beyond.” A community in that sense can and will extend throughout the journey. Before coming to this place, I worked for some time in this particular field, and I feel that the importance of wider family, friends and community in supporting people cannot be overplayed. Recovery is always best when we have others around us, and often the ability to be part of a team together is not valued enough.”
“However, despite the number of people who are affected, we know that many people—both those who are personally living with an eating disorder and family members and friends who are trying to support a loved one with an eating disorder—will feel like they are facing the illness alone. As has been said, eating disorders can be deeply isolating, and it can be frightening and difficult to reach out for support. We hear that repeatedly from those who are recovering and from their families. Some of the hardest times come before one realises that there are other people who have had similar experiences and other people to reach out to who care and have the skills to help. It often feels lonely, so we need that community approach at many different points on the journey.”
“I, too, thank Elena Whitham for bringing this important debate to the chamber, and I welcome the guests to the public gallery. I thank parents such as David for pushing us, as politicians, to do more. Like other parties, Scottish Labour supports the aims and objectives of eating disorders awareness week 2026, which this year—as we heard from other members—has a particular focus on the theme of community. That is such an important point to make. As we have heard from other members, at least 100,000 people in Scotland are living with an eating disorder, and hundreds of thousands more are impacted as relatives, friends and colleagues.”
“We are taking steps in relation to our investments in social care pay, as well as other elements of the budget, such as terms and conditions and the ability for social care staff to come forward with collective bargaining arrangements in order to make improvements. I say gently to Ms Mochan that these matters could be improved if we were also able to attract social care staff here. She will be aware of the 77 per cent reduction in health and care visas that have been offered and the obliteration of the care route for international workers to come and work in this country. We could be working closer together to encourage United Kingdom colleagues to allow international workers to come and work in the social care sector in Scotland. Palliative Care 2.”
“Can the cabinet secretary explain not only how the Government will fill the massive number of carer vacancies, as is required to end delayed discharge, but how it will better support existing staff who are working flat out to provide care to those who are stuck in hospitals? Neil Gray: I thank Carol Mochan for her question, which recognises that not everything that arrives at the door of the health service is driven by issues for which the health service has a responsibility. She points to social care as one element of the whole-system approach that needs to be taken. That is why we are working very closely with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and why we have made further investments in social care in the current budget.”
“The public want to know whether each area of the hospital has been fully validated, including water and ventilation systems, whether that has been independently verified and, if so, whether that information will be published. Until those questions are answered and patients and staff are satisfied, Parliament cannot be satisfied. It is our job to speak up for our constituents and scrutinise this failing Government. Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour are doing just that. 15:24”
“While we wait for the oversight group to begin its reporting, which could take months, the public need to be reassured now. We do not need an oversight group to tell us whether every ward and unit in the hospital has been fully validated; the Government could give us that information today. We do not need an oversight group to tell us what immediate steps are being taken to address issues with whistleblowing, which the Patient Safety Commissioner has identified as a system-wide issue. Finally, we do not need an oversight group to tell us how the Scottish Government will ensure full transparency over hospital safety concerns in the future. I recognise the work that the group has been set up to do, but the Government has the power to reassure patients now.”
“What happened at the hospital was a monumental failure—it was a failure in safety, a failure in leadership and a failure in accountability. Of course, we cannot rewrite the errors of the past, but we must do everything possible to ensure that patients are kept safe and that past mistakes are never repeated. We must ensure that those who are affected by the contaminated water are told the truth, and we must ensure that steps are taken to reassure patients that the hospital is safe. The establishment of the safety and public confidence oversight group is welcome, and action must be taken to boost the public’s confidence in the hospital. The oversight group cannot be another tick-box exercise—it must lead to tangible and meaningful change for patients, families and staff.”
“Hospitals are supposed to help people to get better, not make them sicker, and no one should worry that hospitals and healthcare facilities are not safe. The truth is that the Queen Elizabeth university hospital opened before it was ready, and it opened with contaminated water. The risk of waterborne infection was foreseeable, and issues were raised, but they were not acted on. Those who raised concerns were belittled, silenced and threatened, and whistleblowing procedures were not followed. The health board failed to admit serious errors in judgment and withheld the truth from patients and families. NHS staff deserve to work in an environment in which their concerns are listened to and addressed, particularly when patient safety is a concern. However, on this Government’s watch, that did not happen.”
“Today, we are seeking clarity on the safety of the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. Public trust and confidence in our NHS should always be a top priority—without it, we risk undermining the very foundations of our health service. I thank all the hard-working and dedicated staff who deliver safe and effective care across Scotland each and every day. Staff are the backbone of our NHS, and I am grateful for all that they do in caring for our families, friends and loved ones. Let us be clear: the issues that we are discussing today are not an attack on those who deliver care. Rather, this debate highlights the failures in governance systems and structures, because what happened at the hospital is a scandal. Again, I put on record my deepest condolences and sympathies to the patients, families and staff who were ignored and betrayed.”
“The question is one of principle. Do you stand with unpaid carers, with people who use social care and with the third sector? Once again, Labour stood against them. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Again, always speak through the chair. Sodium Valproate Redress Scheme 6.”
“The Government has provided no extra funding to IJBs to support any of that work. The minister knows that that is the proper procedure to allow me to discuss such matters and bring to the attention of the Parliament issues from trade unions, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and local government. If you cared at all, you would be prepared to talk properly— The Deputy Presiding Officer : Always speak through the chair. Carol Mochan:—about how we discuss these matters and ensure that we can do so like adults. Tom Arthur: The member might have a point, if it was not for the fact that I spent a considerable amount of time at committee last week discussing these matters. I accept the arguments about process, on which I provided reassurance; I also explained the work that the Government is undertaking.”
“As the cabinet secretary said in her intervention on Tim Eagle, it is desirable that many of those projects work with their local communities, but we probably need to be more robust about the way in which we engage with communities. I see that I am coming to the end of my time, so I again thank Finlay Carson for giving us the opportunity to talk about the issue and about how we get the legislation to a point at which communities find it easy to navigate and can be fully involved in every part of infrastructure planning and meeting the net zero targets, with community wealth building in place around them. 17:08”
“The 9CC Group in Ayrshire is a charitable organisation formed by nine local community councils to manage, administer and distribute community benefit funds that have been generated by wind farms across the Cumnock and Doon Valley area. The community councils have come together so that they can look at the management of funds and the strategic investment around infrastructure building, and consider how to support and empower communities. I understand that that group is looking at one part of wind farms, but, as different infrastructure programmes go forward, some of the structures around them might be helpful for how we work with our communities.”
“How do we ensure that local communities see benefit from the often intrusive nature of infrastructure change? Like other members, I am sure that our communities understand the complexities, and they spend a lot of time trying to understand the systems. However, although they really want to get involved in shaping the future, the current legislation and systems can be quite confusing. Communities care about the environment around them, and, without involving them in decisions, it is difficult to see how we will meet the targets that have been set out, which we all agree must be met. While I have the opportunity, I want to mention a group in the South Scotland region that has been working closely with communities to bring people together and to develop outcomes, including community payback schemes, which are helpful for people.”
“We know that there are plans to substantially upgrade the existing electricity transmission network in Great Britain—other members have mentioned that—with companies planning to invest more than £10 billion in their networks in Scotland in the coming years. By some estimates, there are plans to build five times more transmission networks in the next 12 years than have been built in the past 30 years, so it is understandable that communities are considering and thinking about that—and are worried. The building of the infrastructure and the changes that it will bring raise many issues that we must consider. Who are the companies? What are we doing to engage communities? How do we seek to ensure that community wealth building comes with that investment?”
“I, too, thank Finlay Carson for securing the debate. It is really important that we discuss these issues, particularly, as other members have said and as is stated clearly in the motion, when constituents raise such issues with us. Rural communities understand how important the move to net zero is and, in my experience, they want to be part of the solution. As with many other changes, though, there are times when people feel that changes fall on their shoulders alone. However, I have also seen very good examples of people, communities, Governments and companies working together, and that must be the way in which we move forward.”
“We heard that many people might not understand the risks associated with the procedures, know which procedures are regulated, or know how they can ensure that their practitioner has been verified as a qualified practitioner and that the premises have been verified as safe. One witness who gave evidence to the committee argued that public awareness is extremely important and will be fundamental in enabling the bill to work effectively. Therefore, I ask the Government to take that issue seriously and to provide appropriate resources to ensure that we can increase public awareness. I will close now, because I know that I am over time. As I have said, Scottish Labour supports the bill, and we look forward to working with other members to get it right at stage 2. 16:07”
“Sandesh Gulhane: Does the member agree that we must also strengthen Healthcare Improvement Scotland and ensure that it has the capacity to carry out the functions that the bill will require it to? Carol Mochan: That was a very helpful intervention. We heard that HIS needs to be strengthened. If we are serious about tackling the issue, we must ensure that HIS gets the appropriate funding and support for that work. The committee also discussed the fact that the bill gives us a great opportunity to educate the public on the standards and qualifications that they should look for when they want to have such procedures carried out.”
“An equally important issue for compliance is whether providers are being given enough support to help them ensure that they follow the law. The Government has been unable to provide any detail on what such guidance would look like, and it has not been able to confirm whether businesses will receive financial support for some of the transitions that will be necessary. We hope that that will be covered at stage 2, and I would welcome any comments from the minister to indicate that we might be able to work together on that. As well as providing guidance for providers, the bill presents a welcome opportunity— Sandesh Gulhane: Will the member give way? Carol Mochan: Of course.”
“There was consensus on the need for robust training and national standards to be put in place to ensure clarity and consistency. I hope that the minister will be able to give some feedback on that in her closing remarks, because the committee made it clear that the establishment of clear and appropriate standards will be critical to the bill’s implementation. In addition, serious concerns were raised about whether the sanctions for committing offences under the bill went far enough and whether they would act as a strong enough deterrent for bad actors who are willing to commit repeat offences. I welcome the fact that the Government has recognised those concerns and is considering what more can be done to address them.”
“The unaccountability and lack of regulation must come to an end and introducing further restrictions is a necessary step towards improving patient safety, which is the top priority. As I have said, Scottish Labour recognises that the bill is not perfect and that there are a number of concerns about supporting the move to a new era of regulation, safety and standards that must be addressed at stage 2. I recognise that the minister has committed to doing that. We want fair and appropriate regulation that ensures the highest standards in patient safety, while supporting those providers who deliver a professional and safe service. A key concern that was raised during the committee’s evidence gathering was about the inconsistencies in the training and qualifications of people who provide non-surgical procedures.”
“I am pleased to confirm that Scottish Labour will support the bill at stage 1. During the committee’s evidence gathering sessions, it was clear that the bill could have the potential not only to address gaps in a largely unregulated sector, but to greatly improve patient safety, as has been said. With the growth in the non-surgical cosmetic procedures industry, a worrying gap has been highlighted in essential regulation to protect people. For too long, the industry has operated without proper safety, accountability and professional standards in place, and that has allowed many to take advantage of some of our consumers. Just to be clear, I know that many practitioners seek to keep the sector professional and practise at a high standard—this is about the need for proper accountability and regulation.”
“The evidence is that that is happening, because we are seeing an increased level of activity in the national health service and a sustained reduction in long waits, which I promised the public that I would deliver and I am delivering for people. That has been possible only because of the commitment that has been made by staff and the resources that have been put in by the Scottish Government. I stress the fact that wellbeing support is in place across all health boards to make sure that staff feel well supported. That is an important priority for the Government. Domestic Abuse Services (Highlands) 6.”
“Our hard-working NHS staff always do the best that they can, but they are being driven to burnout. Protecting the wellbeing of staff is a vital part of ensuring that patients get the care and support that they need, but we are facing a workforce wellbeing crisis. What tangible action will the First Minister take in response to the issue of staff who are thinking about retiring early and leaving Scotland’s NHS—because of burnout, and not because they wish to? We really need their skills, and we should value their experience. The First Minister: I agree with the point that Carol Mochan makes. I want staff to feel fulfilled in their work and to be able to make their contribution.”
“We know that the resources of the NHS are under considerable strain and that staff work incredibly hard every day to provide care and treatment—that is their job. However, it is our job to think about how we can maximise the impact of the points that were raised in the report. Others have mentioned specific things that I am sure that the Government is working on. I look forward to the response from the minister on what we all agree is an important issue. I thank members for their contributions and, of course, I thank Bill Kidd for bringing the motion to the chamber. 18:51”
“It is often the case that such treatments cannot be carried out at local hospitals. Patients and their families accept that and understand the importance of having specialist services in centres of excellence. However, we must understand the additional strain that that puts on the family unit, who might not be able to provide support as frequently or immediately because of transport issues or other commitments far from those services. I know that we in the chamber value the incredible specialist services and the work that they do. However, as parliamentarians and representatives of our constituents, we must think about how we can ensure that those families and individuals get the mental health support that they need.”
“Although those therapies are potentially life saving, they are intensive, have a lot of steps to go through and, ultimately, have those life-long consequences that involve thinking about what is happening to the body. Typically, patients have made journeys for diagnosis, and, as we all know, it can then be very difficult to move on to a specialist service. A patient may have built up a link with services and then move to a specialist service before finally getting treatment. That treatment is intensive, with multiple visits, often in isolation, to receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy before the actual infusion. The report has highlighted how emotional that journey is for both the patient and the family. I want to raise the voices of my many constituents who live in very rural areas.”
“Patients can receive their own cells or cells from a donor such as a sibling or an unrelated volunteer. From my research for the debate, it is clear that the toll on people’s health must be enormous. We can think of how the physical presentation of cancer might affect us in that way. We can see the physical presentation of disease and, in some therapies, the treatment is very present. We can all imagine how even the journeys back and forward for diagnosis and treatment might affect us physically. However, this important report lays out the reasons that a patient who receives a stem cell transplant and similar treatments must receive the mental health support that Bill Kidd and others have mentioned and which is also mentioned in the motion.”
“I start by thanking Bill Kidd for bringing this important debate to the chamber. I am always pleased to join in his debates, which are often on subjects that the Parliament does not have time to really shine a light on. Whether they are international issues, with a focus on peace, or issues such as today’s, with a focus on the care and delivery of services to our constituents, they are always important. As others have said, it is important that we consider and describe the therapies that are mentioned in the motion—Dr Gulhane described them very much more eloquently than I can do— together with the intensity of the treatments. Stem cell transplant and similar cell therapies are often the only curative options for patients with blood cancers and other blood disorders.”