Chamber and committees

I want to move on quickly to a totally different issue. How effective is the debt advice and information package as a way of communicating the key information to people who are facing enforcement action? Are there any improvements that could be made? We have heard evidence of some issues in that respect.

I will stop there because I am conscious of time.

Would you say, though, that it is simple and easy to get your head around?

I have a couple of quick questions. You have already touched on the role of the money advisers in connection with the mental health moratorium, but it is recommended that money advisers should actually have the role of applying for a mental health moratorium on behalf of the person concerned. Do you have any views on that—for example, on how it might work and how complicated it might be?

Good morning, convener. I am grateful for the opportunity to say just a few words in support of the formation of the cross-party group on Ukraine. I do not believe that a cross-party group has ever been formed against such a sombre background of its subject state’s being the victim of aggression and invasion by a foreign agent—in this case, Russia. For me, that has provided both the impetus and the drive behind the formation of the cross-party group.

The Parliament can do little in real terms to assist Ukraine in its struggle to retain its independence and to regain its occupied territories. However, we can offer comfort and support to the Ukrainian refugees who have sought sanctuary in Scotland. Many initial members of the CPG represent refugee groups across the country. More of those contact us all the time, seeking to reach out to other groups and to become part of a larger gathering such as the CPG would represent.

The purposes of the CPG are similar to those of other CPGs on nation states. We seek to strengthen political, economic and cultural ties. When it comes to political ties, contact has been made by members of the Ukrainian Parliament, which seeks to establish a Ukraine-Scotland friendship group and to create a closer relationship with the Scottish Parliament through the CPG. I very much welcome that development.

All MSPs will wish Ukraine well in its fight to retain its freedom and way of life. I say again that the situation is unprecedented. Through the establishment of the CPG, we have an opportunity to contribute in some small way to supporting Ukraine and its people in their hour of need. Ukraine needs friends, and now is the time to step up.

I will keep it brief by ending there, convener. I will be happy to answer any questions that you or committee members may have.

Most of those individuals represent refugee organisations locally. One or two of them are academics and people who will contribute in their own right to the strength of the cross-party group, but the vast majority represent very local refugee groups. Some of them are the ones that I mentioned, which are trying to reach out to other refugee groups to get support and help. The cross-party group is a good forum to accommodate and facilitate that, so I welcome their coming forward.

It is certainly part of what the group should be developing, given its remit to look at the political relationships. We have one Ukrainian MP who is prepared to put together a friendship group within the Ukrainian Parliament. We would like to develop that relationship further by inviting it to participate in CPG meetings—remotely, obviously—and doing the best that we can to continue to develop the relationship between Scotland and Ukraine. That is a really positive thing.

If I am comparing one council to another, would I be able to compare apples with apples?

In the middle of all this, I think that you are saying that local authorities are collecting information in a manner that suits them locally but that may not be capable of being collated at national level into something that can be used by the Government. Is that correct?

Okay. I will move on from that, but I cannot say that I am terribly convinced by what you are saying.

My next question is about the views of children. How is the Scottish Government progressing the recommendation in paragraph 103 of the Auditor General’s report that children’s views should be captured and considered as part of the future evaluation of the policy, in line with article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child?