Chamber and committees

Thank you very much for that answer, Rob.

Minister, what can you do to help citizens understand better how the Scottish Government’s spending and taxation plans will impact on their communities?

I have one quick question. When I was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2016, I was a member of the then Equalities and Human Rights Committee, which I sat on for about four years. We heard that equality impact assessments were a tick-box exercise. Have things changed over the past eight years, or is more work still to be done to ensure that equality impact assessments are carried out correctly?

I have a quick question that follows on from Kevin Stewart’s and Paul O’Kane’s questions.

We are talking about equalities, inequalities and human rights. What conversations has the minister had with Angela Constance, who was previously the Minister for Drugs Policy and is now a cabinet secretary, about the availability of rehabilitation for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol?

It is important that we look at all the areas in which people feel disadvantaged or in which their voices are not heard. I appreciate that offer and would like to have more conversations with you about the issue.

The substantive part of my question is about the accessibility of, and participation in, the budget process. Why was the easy-read version of “Scottish Budget 2024 to 2025: Your Scotland, Your Finances—a guide” not published at the same time as the standard version of the budget documents?

I am okay just now.

I do not have any questions. It is a short bill, and we have heard from the cabinet secretary.

I agree with what my colleagues said. When I read the report, I felt disappointed that some conveners have not even replied to emails that the clerks have sent them. When somebody takes on responsibility as convener of a group, they should at least give explanations for non-compliance. Some conveners have not even explained why their CPGs are partly non-compliant.

Yes, I do.

The Scottish Government has promised an easy-read version of its guide “Scottish Budget 2024 to 2025: Your Scotland, Your Finances”, but, unfortunately, that has not been published yet. Do you have any views on the accessibility of the 2024-25 budget? Where does responsibility lie for making the budget process accessible to citizens? That is probably to do with Heather Williams’s point about getting the public more involved, so perhaps she will want to respond. I see that Clare Gallagher wants to come in. Would you mind answering that for me, Clare?

Yes.

I think that Heather Williams wants to come in, convener.