Seòmar agus comataidhean

With the previous panel, I raised with the EHRC a question about the mainstreaming strategy. What is the role of local authorities and other public authorities in that? There are a few things, I think —

That is a really important point. There is a part in the report that says that this should not be an add-on for public authorities; it should be integral to what they do, and the inspection regime is an incredibly important part of that. There is a role for the Scottish Government and there is a role for the EHRC, but there is a role for public authorities themselves to almost self-govern and have that self-discipline. We need to focus on that as well, not just on the Government and the EHRC. That is a closing remark on that topic, convener. As John Wilkes said, the inspection regimes are already there.

I have a supplementary question for you, minister, and Nick Bland. The EHRC mentioned the existing inspection regimes for public authorities in areas such as health and education. Do the inspection bodies have a role in making sure that the PSED is part of the inspection regimes?

Another key point is about the role of Government in monitoring. That is not only for Government; it is also the role of Parliament, this committee and its successor committees. How do you see Parliament and Government monitoring the situation? What is the role of the inspection bodies in making sure that public sector bodies continue to follow the PSED?

Thank you.

With the previous panel, I talked about mainstreaming and the role of the EHRC and the Scottish Government in that. What are your thoughts on public authorities’ understanding of the PSED and mainstreaming? For me, the key point is that this should not just be an add-on for public authorities; it should be an integral part of what they do. What is the Government’s role in trying to promote that in public authorities to encourage them to take ownership and, rather than relying on guidance from the Government and the EHRC, take it on and make it an integral part of what they do?

Thank you, convener. I am conscious of time, so I will try to keep my questions as brief as possible. In talking about the proposed reforms, the Government talked about its mainstreaming strategy, and we will be asking the minister about that. The report mentions the role of the Scottish Government. Jennifer Laughland talked about the role of the EHRC and how limited that can be, given your staffing. There is also a major emphasis on the role of public authorities, whether local authorities, police, health or others.

What are your thoughts on the Government’s evolving approach to mainstreaming? There is a strong onus on public authorities to take ownership of this, too, which is really important. They cannot just wait for guidance from the EHRC or the Scottish Government. In my opinion, public authorities have to do that little bit more to move this on.

Maggie Chapman said that we all come at this from different viewpoints on equality. The massive worry that I have is about the increase in racism that we have seen and the discourse around asylum seeking and so on, which is really concerning.

What more can the Scottish Government do? What can public authorities do, other than just waiting for guidance from the EHRC or Scottish Government? What do public authorities need to do to try and move this forward? This is about data collection, but it is also about doing the right thing, to make sure that everybody is treated equally.

The role of the strategic group is important, and you chair that group. I think that you are saying that data is the number 1 key thing at group meetings. I know that you have to speak to other members of the group, but what are your initial thoughts on how the group will engage with the data question at future meetings?

I have asked this question when Mr Macpherson has attended the committee previously. It is about the regional opportunities for colleges. In my constituency, there are opportunities for renewables. How can we focus funding on increasing such opportunities?

A related key question is about interactions with universities. How do we see the role of closer working between colleges and universities in looking at that broader approach? My questions are primarily on apprenticeships, how we can focus on regional opportunities and how those things will work moving ahead.

Minister, you touched on opportunities to work more closely with universities, and I understand your point about colleges. However, in my discussions with colleges and universities, there have been questions about how such opportunities might work. Where does funding flow between the two institutions? What opportunities are there in innovation and outside funding? My question is also about those areas, the opportunities there and the work that we are doing specifically on those points.

Thank you. I am conscious of the time, convener, so I will leave it there.