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 773 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 3 March 2022
Elena Whitham
It would be remiss of me not to bring my colleague Jeremy Balfour back in before we move on to Miles Briggs.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 3 March 2022
Elena Whitham
Thank you very much. That was very powerful testimony, which has given us a strong steer. I think that Marsha Scott wants to come in briefly before I bring in Jeremy Balfour.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 10 February 2022
Elena Whitham
We move to questions on the Afghan resettlement scheme from Natalie Don, who joins us remotely.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 10 February 2022
Elena Whitham
We will move on to questions on no recourse to public funds.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 10 February 2022
Elena Whitham
Graham, I am sorry; Marie McNair has a further question and Andy Sirel wants to come in.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 10 February 2022
Elena Whitham
We will continue our evidence taking on refugees and asylum seekers. The format of the session will be the same as for the previous panel. I welcome our next panel of witnesses, who join us remotely. We have Hassan Darasi, challenging violence against women project manager from Community Infosource; Phil Arnold, head of refugee services for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, British Red Cross; Maggie Lennon, director of the Bridges Programmes; and Pinar Aksu, human rights and advocacy co-ordinator, Maryhill Integration Network.
As with the first panel, which I hope you were all able to listen in on, I ask for succinct questions and answers because we are trying to gather a lot of information from you. There is a lot of interest from members to ask questions. Please put an R in the chat function if you have something to add, but remember that you can follow things up in writing if there is something that you think it is important for the committee to hear.
We will again start with questions from Jeremy Balfour.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 10 February 2022
Elena Whitham
Perhaps Phil Arnold would like to answer.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 10 February 2022
Elena Whitham
In the interests of time, if anybody would like to add anything, I ask them to submit it to us in writing.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 10 February 2022
Elena Whitham
I see lots of heads nodding, which suggests that we will get answers in writing. Hassan, thank you very much for your comment in the chat function, which we will take note of.
I thank all our witnesses, and Pam Gosal, who joined us from her other committee meeting.
That concludes the public part of the meeting. At our next meeting, on 24 February, we will take evidence on kinship carers as part of our work to explore the breadth of the committee’s remit and to establish key priorities for this parliamentary session.
We move into private to consider the remaining agenda items, for which members should join us online via the Microsoft Teams link in their calendars.
11:09 Meeting continued in private until 11:39.Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 10 February 2022
Elena Whitham
Thank you.
Pam Gosal has indicated that she does not have a question at this time but might have questions for the next panel. Thank you all for your evidence and for the written evidence that you have submitted. Please do follow up on the points where we have indicated that that would be warranted. I will suspend briefly for a change of panel.
10:03 Meeting suspended.