Chamber and committees

Sorry, Micheleine, could you wrap up? Carry on—I know that you are in the middle of that point—but I ask you to wrap up quickly.

I apologise that we did not follow up on a couple of points from my colleague Pam Duncan-Glancy’s questions regarding involvement in the national allowance discussions and which agency got the contract. If the witnesses could follow up in writing on those points, that would be great.

I apologise that we have run short on time. It has been a really interesting and informative session. I thank all our witnesses very much. I know that the issue is extremely emotive and important, so they should be assured that their responses and testimonies will help to inform our work on the matter.

That concludes the public part of the meeting. At next week’s meeting, we will take evidence from a range of organisations that support women and girls who have experienced violence and we will consider where the focus for the prevention of violence should be.

We now move into private to consider our remaining agenda items. Members who online should leave this meeting and join via the link in their calendars.

Would you like to direct that to a particular member of the panel?

Thank you. I will bring Alison Gillies back in with a follow-up point.

Yes—on you go, Marie.

We move to Miles Briggs.

Agenda item 2 is kinship care. I welcome to the meeting our first panel, who are joining us remotely. Kirsty Doull is permanence lead with CELCIS, Laura Caven is with the children and young people team of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Vivien Thomson is from Social Work Scotland and Linda Richards is from Perth and Kinross Council.

There are a few housekeeping points to mention before we start. Please allow our broadcasting colleagues a few seconds to turn your microphones on before you start to speak. All witnesses can indicate with an R in the dialogue box in BlueJeans, or simply with a show of their hand, that they wish to come in on a question. Everyone should check that they can see the dialogue box on the right-hand side of their screen.

I ask everybody to be mindful of the time, because we have a lot to get through. Please do not feel that you have to answer every question. If you have nothing new to add to what other people have said, that is okay. You are welcome to follow up in writing with any points that you feel have not been covered or that you might have missed, or if you want, after the meeting, to supply further information on any point that has been raised.

I ask for short and succinct questions and answers, please, and I invite all members to direct their questions to specific witnesses.

Thank you.

Alison Gillies, you wanted to comment on that point. I ask you to be brief. If you have any further points, you can make them in writing.

I believe that Vivien Thomson wants to come in before you move on.

Thank you. That leads me to my next question, which is on the cost of the school day. We have discussed the huge challenges for those on low incomes and the barriers that our young people face in relation to the costs of the school day. In its written submission, CPAG welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to policies on

“digital inclusion, curriculum cost removal”

and

“trips and activities”.

The local examples that were provided in the submission were also very helpful.

However, with the cost of living soaring, I feel that the barriers will only be strengthened. Will Sara Spencer expand on the areas relating to the cost of the school day that she believes should be a priority? We talked a bit about stigma earlier, but that was more about stigma for parents. I am interested in policies being carried out in a way that focuses on reducing stigma for children, too. Could you elaborate on that?