The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 960 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
Jonathan, would you like to come in on that?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
Jonathan, do you want to come in on that?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
We move on to questions from Paul McLennan.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
Our next question is from Foysol Choudhury, who is also joining us online.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
I now move to questions from the deputy convener, Emma Roddick.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
We have one final question from Jeremy Balfour. Please make it quick, Jeremy, as we have just under four minutes left.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
That is great, thank you, Jeremy. If the witnesses could follow up by sending us that information, that would be fantastic.
I thank you all for appearing this morning. The committee will now move into private session. Can members who are joining us remotely please use the Microsoft Teams link in their calendars to join the meeting?
11:18 Meeting continued in private until 11:26.Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
Absolutely. The concerns have been noted and, if the committee is happy to do so, we will hold off writing to the Government at this time and wait for a response from the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee.
Are we agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
Agenda item 3 is an evidence-taking session with VoiceAbility representatives on the organisation’s progress to date in providing independent advocacy under the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.
I welcome to the meeting the chief executive Jonathan Senker, who is joining us remotely, and Susan Douglas-Scott, chair of trustees and Emily Johnston, operations manager, both of whom are in the room with us today. Thank you for accepting the committee’s invitation to give evidence.
Before we start, I want to make a few points about the format of the meeting, given that we are meeting in a hybrid format. First, I ask Jonathan Senker and any members attending remotely to please wait until I or the member asking the question say their name before they speak. It would also be helpful, Jonathan, if you could give our broadcasting colleagues a few seconds to turn your microphone on before you start to speak. If you wish to come in on a question, you can indicate as much by typing an R in the dialogue box in BlueJeans or simply by showing your hand.
To all our witnesses, I say this: please do not feel that you have to answer every single question. If you have nothing new to add, that is perfectly okay.
Finally, colleagues in the room should indicate to me or the clerk if they wish to ask a supplementary question. Committee members attending online should use the chat box or WhatsApp.
Before we move to questions, I believe that Mr Senker would like to make an opening statement. I am happy for you to do so now, Mr Senker.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 24 November 2022
Natalie Don-Innes
In that case, I call Jeremy Balfour.