Four months have passed since the Scottish Government announced a full public inquiry into Professor Eljamel, but we still have no confirmation of the appointed chair, no confirmation of the start date of the one-to-one clinical reviews and, as was revealed by The Courier, no confirmation from the First Minister that the public inquiry will start in 2024. Will the First Minister confirm all those points?

It is fully my expectation that the public inquiry will start in 2024. Therefore, we should have an inquiry chair appointed very shortly, I hope, because the Lord President has, rightly, been involved in the process of appointing an inquiry chair, and discussions are at a very advanced stage.

Planning for the independent clinical review is also well under way, and further discussions are continuing early next week. We will say more as soon as we can. As with the announcement of the inquiry, we will ensure that former patients are informed directly wherever possible.

I say to those who have suffered greatly at the hands of Professor Eljamel that we do not want them waiting a moment longer for the public inquiry to begin. I can give them absolute confidence that a lot of work is happening, somewhat behind the scenes at the moment, with the appropriate authorities, including the Lord President, to ensure that an appropriate inquiry chair is appointed.

The Presiding Officer:

That concludes First Minister’s question time. There will be a short suspension to allow those leaving the chamber and public gallery to do so.

12:47 Meeting suspended.

12:49 On resuming—