I rise on behalf of the Education and Skills Committee for an unusual purpose: I speak not to inform the Parliament about work that we have undertaken but to explain why, with regret, we are not proceeding with deliberations on the Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill. I beg the forbearance of members so late in the evening and trust that they will understand.

The bill was introduced by Johann Lamont last year and would require the Scottish ministers to produce and implement a national transitions strategy to improve outcomes for children and young people with disabilities in the transition to adulthood. Councils would have to produce a transition plan for each child and young person with a disability, who should receive appropriate support before, during and after the transition to adulthood.

The committee received 75 responses to our call for views on the bill, and we took evidence from Johann Lamont and her bill team on 24 February.

Given the nature of the proposals, it is vital that the committee hears from people with lived experience, third sector organisations, local authorities and the Scottish Government itself before we report at stage 1. Unfortunately, there is not enough time left in this parliamentary session for us to take that evidence.