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Congratulations, Elena. I will pass over to you to chair the remainder of the meeting.

The flexibility is positive and shows that we are taking a person-centred approach.

I will move on to theme 4. We have touched somewhat on this, but I want a bit more clarity. Can you give us a general update on how recruitment of the additional 2,000 staff is progressing? Specifically, how is recruitment of case managers and specialist practitioners progressing? I know that you mention that in your letter.

I would also like to ask again about training. How are we taking people on and how will they deal with people who apply for disability benefits? We have all heard horror stories about how people have been treated by the DWP. How will you ensure that with this most complex of benefits, support and respect will be adhered to at all times?

Your answers have been very informative, which I appreciate. I have a more general question that follows on from an issue that I raised at last week’s meeting. The legislation is, as always, full of jargon and is not very easy to read, so I would like confirmation from the minister that there will be guidance on eligibility criteria that will be simple and easy for people to understand. That is in relation to CDP and ADP.

Good morning and welcome to the committee’s third meeting in 2022. Our former convener, Neil Gray, was appointed as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development on Tuesday and therefore resigned from his convenership. We wish Neil all the best in his new post and thank him for all the work he has done for the committee.

I welcome to the committee Elena Whitham MSP, who will replace Neil Gray as a committee member. Apologies have been received from Emma Roddick MSP and we welcome Evelyn Tweed MSP back to the committee as Emma’s substitute. Before we turn to the appointment of our new convener, I invite Elena to declare any relevant interests.

We move to the appointment of a new convener. On 15 June 2021, the Parliament agreed that members of the Scottish National Party are eligible to be chosen as convener of the committee. I nominate Elena Whitham to be our convener.

Elena Whitham was chosen as convener.

We have touched on a couple of the points that I was going to raise, but I will seek a little bit more clarification on theme 3, then move on to theme 4.

The flexibility that we are giving 16-year-olds to apply from age 16 to age 18 is positive. Can you give me a bit more information on the sentiments and reasoning behind why you have chosen to do that?

We have also touched on local delivery services; I would like you to elaborate on that. From the information you have been given, do you feel that they will have a strong role in helping people to transfer from child disability payment to ADP?

Thank you both.

Good morning, minister. My first question has just been answered, so I will move on to my two further questions.

One thing that makes Scotland’s deposit return scheme so ambitious compared with schemes in other countries is the inclusion of glass. That has been criticised by some, and there are concerns that, if the scheme leads to more glass being crushed, that might mean less glass recyclate available for the industry. Can the minister guarantee that that will not happen?

I thank the panel. The discussion has been very informative.

This is another quick question. We have talked a lot about partnership work in local authorities, and I want to get your views on some of the partnership mechanisms that are highlighted in the updated climate change plan. For example, I am thinking about the Grangemouth future industry board, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, which is in my constituency, and Dundee’s Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc. Given the tone of this morning’s conversation, I assume that you are quite positive about such arrangements.

Thank you for confirming that.

We have also heard concerns from parts of the industry that have raised issues about legacy containers, by which I mean containers of products that were produced prior to the regulations coming into force. That seems to be a particular issue for producers and retailers of products such as whisky, which can sit on shelves for a long period. Can the minister clarify exactly how such containers will be covered by the scheme?