Chamber and committees

That is very helpful. You have touched on safeguards and, in your opening remarks, you talked about the need for greater clarity around safeguards. Can you say a little more about that? Safeguards mean slightly different things in different contexts. In relation to your work, what are you talking about when you talk about safeguards for disabled people?

Thank you very much. That is really helpful.

Nick Hobbs outlined that the lived experience and participation of young people are vital to the role of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner. Would you like to add anything else on that, Nick?

Thank you all very much. I am aware that we have three different types of commission in front of us this morning, so it has been really interesting to hear about your different perspectives, reporting mechanisms and accountability structures. That is something for us to take on board and to consider as we progress with this work.

Thank you very much for your time and for the evidence that you have given us. I am sure that you will be hearing from us in due course as we progress this work. We will move into private session.

Thank you very much, Jan. I thank all the witnesses for their opening statements. We will move to questions now, and I will kick off.

In different ways, you have all said that you support the principles behind, and the desired outcomes of, the proposed disability commissioner and the legislation that we are considering. The consultation shows strong support for a commissioner role. Why do you think that is? We have heard talk of implementation gaps and accountability gaps. What is failing? What is going wrong? Could you tell us what your organisations are seeking to do in the space? I will start with Nick Hobbs.

I will ask Jan Savage a similar question. Where are the issues with accountability and implementation? Where is the SHRC’s role working in this space?

Paul, is there anything that you want to pick up on in that space, before I bring in Evelyn Tweed?

Evelyn, over to you.

No, go for it.

Does anyone else want to pick up on that point?