Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says Santander customers were not consulted about the planned closures and simply received a letter saying they would have to travel to the next nearest branch.

Ms Forbes says the Scottish government is doing all it can with the powers it has.

She expresses dissatisfaction with the decision, particularly given the exacerbated impacts in rural areas.

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Public Finance and Digital Economy Minister Kate Forbes replies that she is deeply concerned at the scale of bank closures across Scotland, particularly in rural areas.

"Digital should never be exclusive," Ms Forbes adds.

Ms Beamish asks what the Scottish government can do.

The minister replies that banking regulation is a reserved matter, but the Scottish government has talked to banks and has launched a campaign to encourage people to sign up to credit unions.

Ms Forbes also highlights engagement with post offices.

Image source, Google

Spanish-owned bank Santander is slashing its branch network by almost a fifth, closing 15 branches in Scotland.

Across the UK, the 140 branch closures are putting 1,270 jobs at risk. It is not yet clear how many Scottish jobs are affected.

The bank blamed the closures on "changes in how customers are choosing to carry out their banking".

It said branch transactions have fallen 23% in the last three years, while digital transactions have soared 99%.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish asks about the impact on communities of banks reportedly closing branches without consultation, such as Santander in the South Scotland region.

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Click here to view the full list of questions. , external

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After general questions, we'll provide extensive coverage of first minister's questions at noon.

After that, SNP MSP Willie Coffey celebrates Kilmarnock FC's 150th anniversary with a member's debate.

Finally, MSPs debate the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.

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MSPs express disappointment that the reassurances from Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick have not been followed through.

The committee says before the petition can be closed they should seek confirmation that the health committee will carry out an inquiry into hypothyroidism and the prescribing of T3.

This Petition, external from Sandra Whyte, Marian Dyer and Lorraine Cleaver is informed by their personal traumatic experiences of thyroid/adrenal debilitating disease.

Many erroneous diagnoses were explored spanning decades which "left us homeless, jobless, penniless and close to death".

The current T4-only treatment, prescribed by the General Medical Council (GMC), is inadequate for patients who do not convert T4 to the active T3.

Image source, BURGER/PHANOE

This must be rectified urgently by:

1. We ask for the inclusion of tests for Free T3 (FT3) and Reverse T3 (RT3) thyroid hormones, as these are the strongest indicators of cellular thyroid levels.

2. We ask for medical professionals to acknowledge that adrenal insufficiency does exist and to incorporate The Adrenal Stress Index Test within NHS thyroid testing procedures.

3. We ask for medical professionals to take account of variances in individual bio-chemistry and tailor treatment accordingly. Treatment may consist of: T4 only; T4/T3; T3 only or natural desiccated thyroid – or whatever combination to suit the individual patient. They must also provide appropriate support for adrenal insufficiency.

4. We ask for NHS procedures to include testing of autoimmune status, minerals, enzyme, and vitamins. The ‘active B12’ (methylcobalamin) is more effective than the current injection of hydroxocobalamin. Most Scots are vitamin D deficient, and must have high level replacement.

According to Dr Anthony Toft from theBritish Thyroid Association, externalthe Thyroid is a bit like the accelerator pedal on your car. It produces hormones which help control the energy balance in your body. If it's underactive, then your metabolic rate will be slower than it should be. This means that you are likely to put on weight. Other symptoms can include feeling too cold or too hot, lacking in energy, being constipated, low mood, poor attention or "brain fog".

The main hormones involved are thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T4 and T3. TSH is released by the pituitary gland and tells your thyroid to get going.

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In response your thyroid should release the hormones T4 and T3. T4 is converted in your body into T3, the active hormone that revs up your cells.

If you have symptoms of hypothyroidism then your GP will probably test your blood. The signs they're looking for are high levels of TSH, together with low levels of T4.

If your TSH is higher than normal this suggests that the gland that produces this hormone - the pituitary gland - is working hard to tell the thyroid gland to produce more hormone, but for some reason the thyroid gland is not listening.

The pituitary then ups its game and produces more and more TSH, but T4 levels stay low.

MSPs now consider PE1463, external on effective thyroid and adrenal testing, diagnosis and treatment.

It calls for action to ensure GPs and endocrinologists are able to accurately diagnose thyroid and adrenal disorders and provide the most appropriate treatment.

• Read Petition background information, external
• Previous action taken to resolve issue, external
• Click here for the petition PDF, external

Image source, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

NICE plans guidance on thyroid conditions, says Ms Lamont.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith thanks Dr Toft for saving her life and Lorraine Cleaver, one of the petitioners.

The issue of prescribing T3 has become the issue due to reluctance to prescribe it, says Ms Smith.

She calls on the health committee to carry out an inquiry like the mesh inquiry, hearing from women who have hypothyroidism and endocrinologists.

The Labour MSP says the public health minister insists T3 can be prescribed and it is down to NHS boards, but she adds three are still refusing to prescribe it.

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MSPs now consider PE1700, external on Progression of process for Section 30 order to hold Scottish Referendum on Independence from the United Kingdom

Ms Lamont says the committee has received a number of e-mails calling on the committee to support the petition.

Nicola Sturgeon has stated her case for a further vote on Scottish independence in the US.

She said: "I, as first minister, have said I will outline my thoughts on the timing of another independence referendum in the next few weeks - once the terms of Brexit have become clearer."

The committee agrees to close the petition as this is a topic that is going to be debated in Scotland and the Scottish government has clarified its position.

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SNP MSP Angus Macdonald suggests close containment for salmon farms could solve the environmental impact of the industry.

The committee agrees to contact the Scottish government about this and look at the Norway model.

MSPs agree to contact the main players in this industry.

The committee will now consider PE1715, external on Closed-Containment for Salmon Farms in Scotland.

Yesterday the rural economy committee led a debate following its inquiry into salmon farming.

Click here to view the report, external, published in November.

The committee made 65 recommendations on improving regulations on the sector, but concluded there was "insufficient evidence" to support calls for a moratorium on expansion.

However, Labour MSP Colin Smyth and Green MSP John Finnie dissented from this view.

View our coverage of the debate here.

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The Public Petitions Committee considers PE1714, external and agrees to look at finding better statistics.

Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks if there is a bigger piece of work for the health committee as if he was a GP watching this he would be "hiding under the desk at the number of things they have to retrain on".

Ms Lamont says there won't be many GPs watching this committee due to the pressures they are under.

The committee convener adds they will write to the Scottish government and GP organisations, as well as contacting other stakeholders with an interest.

She thanks James MacLachlan and Jean Watson for giving evidence today.

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James MacLachlan says there is a postcode lottery in the treatment and support you get from councils across Scotland.

Ms Watson says because ILD is a breathing issue it is not seen on a par with mobility issues, due to a lack of knowledge.

Committee convener Johann Lamont asks about more training for GPs.

The petitioners point out they are just people with the disease and are not medical.

Mr MacLachlan says it is not simply just breath in and breath out to allow the crackle to be hear on examination.

"We don't think all GPs are fully trained for this."

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PE1714, external on interstitial lung disease and home management calls for the Scottish government to provide funding to raise awareness of Interstitial Lung Disease and home management.

The Scottish Government has established the National Advisory Group for Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks.

It is at the very early stages of creating a task group which will develop a respiratory plan for Scotland.

Read more about the petition here., external

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Jean Watson says that a simple chest sounding taken when you go for a flu jab could be the way forward.

Mr MacLachlan explains at the moment there is no possibility of getting an examination when you go for a flu jab.

Ms Watson says they have not been able to find any statistics showing how many people have ILD in Scotland.