Chamber and committees

Thanks. They are on the same area.

Suzanne, do you have any information from the people that you represent about likely increases in tariffs, particularly where the local authority is the provider or the account holder? Can anything be done to mitigate the impact of that being passed on, while recognising the costs that the local authority will have?

My other question is slightly broader, but it is still on the cost of living. What can we do to make sure that Social Security Scotland can provide the best possible service to the Gypsy Traveller community? We have heard from most of the panel about the need to make sure that there is training and engagement with the community and an understanding of the interconnected aspects. That also relates to the point about a cashless society.

Yes—it is around access to justice and representation. Members might know that I have been meeting members of the Gypsy Traveller community who were affected by the programme to integrate Gypsy Travellers into mainstream society that took place between 1940 and 1980, which was ultimately badly designed.

We know that the impacts of that programme on the people involved were widespread. Post-traumatic stress disorder, long-term depression and the effects of long-term ostracisation are some of the things that they have highlighted. Despite that, the community, as it has highlighted for a number of years, is still looking for an apology and redress. I am keen to hear from Davie Donaldson and Lynne Tammi about that. Do you feel that an apology and redress would be helpful? What impact could that have on access to justice for Gypsy Travellers? Also, do you feel that people are empowered in that community to enjoy the human rights that they have and to hold people to account for them?

I thank the witnesses for joining us today and for the helpful answers that they have given so far.

I want to extend part of the conversation that we have just had and talk about the cost of living. Specifically, I am keen to know about lived experience of fuel poverty. Are the needs of the communities that you represent sufficiently addressed in Scotland’s fuel poverty strategy and the action plan? Does further work need to be done, given the upcoming increase to the price cap and the expected increase in energy prices? I am also keen to hear a bit more about the impact of a cashless society, which David Donaldson mentioned.

I will start with David, because I am quite intrigued by the concept of a cashless society and how we can address the related issues and support people through the cost of living crisis.

Convener, is it okay if I ask a couple of supplementary questions?

No, unless David Donaldson or anyone else has anything to add. I think that Davie wants to comment. Sorry, Davie—I have been calling you David. That might be your Sunday name.

Good morning to the panel. Thank you for the information that you gave us in advance, which was very helpful, and thank you for your answers so far.

I have a couple of questions on risk and demand in the social security system. My first one is probably for Emma Congreve. In your submission, you note that the Scottish Government has a policy to increase take-up in benefits. Is it clear from the framework and other documents how it would increase uptake and what the costs and the implications would be?

That is helpful. Can I ask one more follow-up question, convener?

My questions are specifically about the child poverty targets. You have said that it is unclear from the medium-term financial strategy or any other document how the Government’s spending choices will enable it to make progress towards meeting those targets. Therefore, it would be helpful if you could set out whether you believe that the Government’s spending choices will enable the child poverty targets to be met, whether they will enable the targets for the specific priority groups to be met and what you expect the Government to do in the spending review in order to meet the child poverty targets.

First of all, I should correct the record. I said that we got our papers on Thursday, but we got them on Monday. Please forgive me—I was getting confused about which committee papers I was talking about.

I thank the minister for his answer, but I respectfully say to him that I do not think that this is a matter of transferring information from a USB stick. We have had since 2018 to get moving on this, which means that a considerable amount of time has passed. As I know the minister will understand, I understand that the process is complex, but we could have been uprating disability and carers benefits by 6 per cent today. However, we are not, and I just want to mark for the record how unfortunate it is that we have not been able to take that decision, because it means that we are still not delivering those benefits here in Scotland for the people of Scotland.