Chamber and committees

I understand that we do not have Calum Maciver back. I do not know whether it would be helpful for us to get that information from him. He could write to the committee.

Good morning and welcome to the sixth meeting of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. Apologies have been received from Foysol Choudhury.

Our first item of business is a decision to take items 3 and 4 in private. Are we all agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Pam, did you have another question?

Sticking with that last point, could you talk about the specific issues that councils across Scotland may face in relation to asylum-seeking children? How does the support offered in Scotland differ from that offered in the rest of the UK and why does that give councils particular problems?

It would be helpful if you shared those figures with us, considering that in Scotland we have an obligation to people who are care-experienced, up to their 26th birthday.

I see that Councillor Aitken is indicating that she wants to speak. Do you want to add anything, Councillor Aitken?

That is fantastic. We look forward to receiving that information. Pam Gosal has a few questions.

We had some questions about the Scottish Government’s lodging of a legislative consent memorandum on the Nationality and Borders Bill but, in the interests of time, we will write to you and ask for your thoughts on the two specific clauses that fall within the devolved competencies.

I thank the witnesses for their evidence and Pam Gosal for joining the meeting. You are welcome to follow up on any points that you think we need to have fleshed out. I thank those who have already offered to do that.

That concludes the public part of the meeting. Next week, we will continue to take evidence on refugees and asylum seekers. We now move into private session to consider our remaining agenda items.

If you are very brief.

I will bring in my colleague Natalie Don, who will ask questions on the Afghan citizen resettlement scheme.