Chamber and committees

I am conscious that we have representatives of two UK-wide organisations present. Keith Park and Trisha Hatt, do you have any view on whether the UK Government has any intention to review the 20m rule, which Marie McNair asked about? Clearly, that would answer some of the problems and concerns that have been raised about passporting and the move of people who are currently on DLA to ADP.

I want to follow up on one of Miles Briggs’s questions. I ask Suzie Burt how much of a challenge it has been to raise funds during the pandemic and how useful multiyear funding would have been during this time.

I see that Paul Bradley is looking to come back in. Does that reflect the SCVO’s view as well? Is the spike likely to be a result of people having far more time on their hands due to furlough, so they were able to give more of their time? How do we harness the positive aspect of what has happened during the pandemic to encourage people to keep supporting their local third sector organisations?

Glenn Liddall, Ian Bruce and Myles Fitt would also like to make very brief contributions.

I am conscious of what you said about the number of your member organisations that had access to furlough—it seemed a very small number in comparison with other areas of society. Is that due to the very heavy lifting that the third sector did during Covid in providing services to communities across Scotland? I see that Martin Tyson wants to come in.

Does Paul Bradley or anyone else on the panel want to reflect on the apparently low number of organisations utilising furlough? That low number suggests to me that a number of organisations had to keep their operations pretty steady throughout the pandemic. Is that an accurate reflection?

You are absolutely right. I take my hat off to everybody who continued to work and provide services throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk to help others across society. It was an incredible effort, and it is still going on in communities across Scotland.

Are Kaja Czuchnicka or Paul Bradley able to reflect on one of the positive aspects of the pandemic for the third sector, which is the anecdotal spike in volunteering that has taken place across Scotland, with people giving their time and services to local organisations? Is there evidence to support that spike?

Paul Bradley is looking to come in here.

Good morning, and welcome to the 13th meeting in 2021 of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. Apologies have been received from Natalie Don, and I am pleased to say that Evelyn Tweed is attending in her place.

Our first item of business is a decision on taking items 4, 5 and 6 in private. Do we agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Who would you like your question to go to first, please?