Chamber and committees

Professor McLeod, you spoke about weaknesses in the plans. I assume that you are talking about island authorities in particular. Can you give an example of what you mean by weakness? We are not embedded in all that, so it is helpful for us to know what is weak and what needs to be stronger.

That question was going to be about whether there were alternatives to the perspective that was set out by Professor Ó Giollagáin, but we have just heard one.

I will ask about Gaelic-learner and Gaelic-medium education. Notwithstanding the previous comments about the symbolic value of language in schools, I think that Gaelic-medium education is important. I would like to hear reflections on its current strengths and weaknesses. We have already spoken about staffing challenges, which might be included among those. I would be happy to hear from Professor McLeod or Professor Ó Giollagáin.

Part of that issue is maybe around wider community use and ability. Not everyone who goes to the Gaelic-medium schools has parents speaking the language at home. Is it about that wider opportunity?

Good morning, minister. Everyone, I think, will want to get this legislation in place as swiftly as possible and establish the compensation scheme.

Although Haemophilia Scotland supports the LCM, in its submission to the committee it talks about

“serious concerns over some ... proposed changes which deviate from ... recommendations set out”

in the

“Compensation Framework Study and ... Second Interim Report.”

Will you talk to the Scottish Government’s thinking on those deviations?

That is helpful.

Have you made an assessment of the volume of issues that there might be currently?

For the benefit of the record and for setting people’s expectations—it is important that people do not have an incorrect expectation of what you can achieve—who do you anticipate will be, or who should be, in touch with the office to highlight any cases that they feel reflect systemic issues?

Sometimes those whose rights are being impinged on or are not being realised have the least capacity to engage the legal profession. How do you address that?

Just very briefly, further to that, how do you have those conversations with children and young people?

I want to ask about the UNCRC. What work is your office doing to ensure that public bodies and schools are ready for the commencement of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024?