Chamber and committees

Good morning, minister, and thank you for your opening remarks. Evidence that has been taken at the committee has highlighted anxieties that a new disability commissioner would add to a cluttered landscape and, as you mentioned earlier, that there would be duplication. However, that might be overcome through joint working or a memorandum of understanding. What are your views on that?

The committee has also heard in evidence from various organisations that there are several statutory organisations that promote and protect the rights of disabled people, but that inequalities persist. What are your views on that?

I have nothing to declare.

Good morning, panel, and thanks for all your comments so far.

I want to ask some questions about the definition of disability that is being used. Can you give the committee your views on using the disability definition under the Equality Act 2010 as the definition in the bill?

It does. Does anyone else want to come in on that? Are there any other comments? I see that there are not.

What are your views on the general powers in the bill? I will read them out. There are quite a few of them, and the remit is quite broad. They are to promote awareness and understanding; to keep law, policy and practice under review; to promote best practice; and to publish research.

Would Richard Meade like to come in on that first?

At one point you mentioned thinking, “What if this fails? What if it does not happen?” How would we fill in the gaps that you have told us about? How could we strengthen the powers of other organisations?

If this does not happen.

Good afternoon, panel members, and thank you for your answers so far. What are your views on using the Equality Act 2010 disability definition in the bill?

Does anyone else want to come in?

Good morning, panel, and thanks for all your answers so far; they have been illuminating.

I will play devil’s advocate. You have said that, generally, a disability commissioner is needed: a figurehead and a champion, with laser-like focus. However, your answers suggest that there will be a lot on such a person’s shoulders. You are looking for them to deliver a lot and when I look at the provisions in the bill, I wonder whether it is too much. Is everything that is set out in the bill too much for one commissioner to deal with?

There may also be fiscal challenges. The Scottish Government has set aside £1 million in the first year; other people have said that that will not touch what is needed. Is one way to look at the situation to agree that we need a commissioner to be the figurehead and to do the overarching work, while considering that some of the work could go elsewhere, to some of the organisations that already exist. A bigger role for the SHRC has already been discussed.