Chamber and committees

As always, convener.

On the issue of Disclosure Scotland fees, you will be aware that the Scottish Government is consulting on whether the fee should now be paid by the individual or the charity rather than by the Scottish Government. What impact would that have on people volunteering or on the organisation?

Good morning, panel members. Thank you for making time to take our questions. What is the benefit of multiyear funding to organisations, and what are the obstacles at the moment to getting it?

We have heard from the deputy convener, and we hear from the Scottish Government over and over again, that, because it does not know how much it is getting from Westminster, it cannot guarantee funding. Interestingly, we do not say to doctors, nurses or even MSPs that they might not have a job in two years’ time. What message does treating the third sector very differently from the public sector send to the third sector?

Good morning. I want to ask a few questions based on your statement.

First, with regard to the ask and act duties, Crisis, in evidence to the committee, said:

“What we want to see in the bill is a much clearer articulation of what is meant by the duty to act.”—[Official Report, Social Justice and Social Security Committee, 13 June 2024; c 13.]

Having spoken to a few stakeholders, I think that there is a lack of clarity about what that means. Perhaps you could tell me what the duty would mean in practice if, for example, I were a nurse working in the accident and emergency department at the royal infirmary on a Thursday night and somebody came in who obviously did not have any housing. What duty to act does that nurse or doctor have, and how would they carry out their duties in practice, if this were to become law?

What are you training the nurse or doctor in? It is all very well to say that you are going to provide training, but what, practically, would you expect a nurse or doctor in a busy A and E to do for someone who is homeless on a Thursday night?

When the Finance and Public Administration Committee looked at the financial memorandum, it seemed quite critical of it. Moreover, the City of Edinburgh Council has stated that, if it were to implement the bill as it was, internal staffing would cost it £1.9 million a year, whereas the financial memorandum allocates only £1.6 million for all 32 local authorities. Are you intending to revise the memorandum before the end of stage 1 so that it gives realistic costs?

In the light of the information that has now been given by the City of Edinburgh Council and by other local authorities, will you revise the financial memorandum—yes or no?

Good morning, everybody. I have two very brief questions. I will start with Sarah Latto. The Scottish Government has consulted on Disclosure Scotland fees and has suggested that they should fall on the charity or organisation to pay, rather than being picked up by the Government. What effect do you think that that would have on volunteering, particularly for smaller charities?

Can I push you on that, minister? You can train someone only when you know what you are training them in—

I am conscious of the time, so I will come back in later.