Skip to main content

Language: English / Gàidhlig

Loading…

Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

Criathragan Hide all filters

Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 4 April 2025
Select which types of business to include


Select level of detail in results

Displaying 1412 contributions

|

Criminal Justice Committee

Tackling Online Child Abuse, Grooming and Exploitation

Meeting date: 31 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

It is interesting, because we were at a Families Outside event last night that was hosted by Rona Mackay. The panel touched on the impact that it has when a person is imprisoned: the stigma and even the cost involved. Families Outside has done a fantastic report, “Paying the Price: The Cost to Families of Imprisonment and Release”. Stuart Allardyce—I am doing a bit of networking here—have you worked with Families Outside or could you link in with that?

Criminal Justice Committee

Tackling Online Child Abuse, Grooming and Exploitation

Meeting date: 31 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

That is good to know. Thank you.

My other question is on the Online Safety Bill. The bill seeks to make social media companies legally responsible for keeping children and young people safe online. Do any of you have any views on whether that will be feasible? What will that look like? Is the bill robust enough to achieve those aims? Are significant amendments required?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty and Parental Employment

Meeting date: 25 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

I will bring in Graeme McAlister on the potential for childminders to provide a funded wraparound service alongside schools.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty and Parental Employment

Meeting date: 25 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

Before I bring Gordon MacDonald back in, Irene Audain has indicated that she would like to comment.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty and Parental Employment

Meeting date: 25 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

Our next agenda item is an evidence session to inform our inquiry into addressing child poverty through parental employment. The inquiry is looking into how the Scottish Government is working with local authorities, employers and other partners at a local level to tackle child poverty through improving employability. Since summer 2022, the committee has gathered information from local employability partnerships, taken part in a focus group, undertaken visits to North Ayrshire and the Western Isles, and run a call for views.

Some clear themes have emerged from the work, and we will explore those in a series of evidence sessions over the coming weeks and in September. The first theme that we will look into is the availability of affordable and flexible childcare for parents, and policies that relate to those issues.

I welcome today’s panel to the meeting. Joining us in the committee room, we have Graeme McAlister, the chief executive of the Scottish Childminding Association, and Matthew Sweeney, policy manager for children and young people at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. Joining us remotely, we have Irene Audain, the chief executive officer of the Scottish Out of School Care Network; and Jonathan Broadbery, director of policy and communications at the National Day Nurseries Association.

Before we start, I have a few points to mention about the format of the meeting. Virtual witnesses and members, before you start to speak, please wait until I—or the member who is asking the question—say your name, and allow our broadcasting colleagues a few seconds to turn your microphone on. If you wish to come in on a question, you can also indicate with an R in the dialogue box in BlueJeans.

Please do not feel that you have to answer every question. If you have nothing new to add to what has been said by others, that is also okay. We have a lot to cover this morning, so I ask everyone to keep questions, answers and follow-up questions tight. Colleagues who are in the room should indicate to me or the clerk if they wish to come in or ask a supplementary question. Members who are joining us online should use the chat box or WhatsApp to do so.

I will invite members to ask questions in turn, as agreed in our pre-briefing. Our first theme is the impact of funded hours, and I call Paul O’Kane.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty and Parental Employment

Meeting date: 25 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

I am happy for you to do that.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty and Parental Employment

Meeting date: 25 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

Graeme McAlister would like to come in, and then I will bring in Jonathan Broadbery.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty and Parental Employment

Meeting date: 25 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

I have a list of people who are online and would like to come in. I will start with Irene Audain and then bring in Graeme McAlister. Jonathan Broadbery has also indicated that he would like to come in.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty and Parental Employment

Meeting date: 25 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

Would any of the witnesses like to respond to that? Are you posing that question to a particular person, Katy?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty and Parental Employment

Meeting date: 25 May 2023

Collette Stevenson

Graeme McAlister wants to come in, but I am conscious of time. Could you please be as tight as possible with your answer, Graeme?