Chamber and committees

Minister, how many Ukrainians are still living on cruise ships in Scotland?

While you are looking for the figures, I have another question. Where will the Ukrainian refugees be moved to?

Who pays for the accommodation? You mentioned that there is a £50 million fund. Is that part of the Ukraine longer term resettlement fund?

I agree—the statistics show that a lot of Hongkongers have settled in Manchester, Salford and other areas in the north-west.

Hongkongers who have come here—there are just a few hundred—recently had a round-table event, at which people said that they do not feel welcome. It is important for us to understand the impact that choosing to come to Scotland has had on them, so it would be welcome if the Scottish Government would analyse that. That relates to my comment that the new Scots strategy uses what is perhaps an umbrella term rather than looking specifically at cultural identities and understanding people for who they are, rather than as part of a group of people who have been displaced.

Convener, do you want me to ask my question about English for speakers of other languages, given that it is part of this issue?

On the welcoming strategy, we heard evidence from various stakeholders that access to ESOL is challenging. What solutions does the Scottish Government propose for addressing that?

That is interesting. I think that the committee should dig more deeply into what kind of ESOL is required, because I am not quite sure what you mean. The other day, I met a Ukrainian refugee who said that she was privately funding her own ESOL and taking virtual lessons to ensure that she could get work in Scotland. What do you mean when you talk about that requirement?

I just wanted to clarify what you said earlier with regard to the Home Office being responsible for ESOL.

But learning the English language is part of the right to education.

It is just a point of clarification. Minister, you have twice mentioned the devolved responsibilities for ESOL, and you have also said that asylum seekers have a right to education. Is ESOL delivered through Education Scotland?