Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thanks. Kaukab Stewart wants to come in.

Would that be Tricia Meldrum?

In that case, under item 3, I invite the Deputy First Minister to move motion S6M-01080.

Motion moved,

That the Education, Children and Young People Committee recommends that the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021 (Form and Content of Waiver etc.) Regulations 2021 be approved.—[John Swinney]

Motion agreed to.

Good morning, and welcome to the sixth meeting in 2021 of the Education, Children and Young People Committee. The first item on our agenda is a decision on taking business in private. Are members content to take agenda item 11 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you, Deputy First Minister. Do members have any questions or comments on the draft regulations?

No other member wishes to raise any questions. Does the Deputy First Minister wish to say anything further on the regulations that has not previously been raised?

As nobody else wants to make good use of the minister’s time with the committee today and we are all content, it remains for me to thank the minister for his very brief initial appearance before the committee. I thank him and his officials for their time.

The public part of today’s meeting is now at an end. I ask members attending remotely to reconvene in five minutes on Microsoft Teams in order to allow for a comfort break. We will then consider our final two agenda items in private.

Thank you for the clarity of that explanation. Can you describe further the assistance that will be available to applicants? You mentioned everyone having clarity around their options. What support will be available to people to enable them to make an informed decision about signing the waiver?

From the evidence that has been given to the committee just for this meeting, it is clear that people have been really damaged. Will the independent legal advice be handled in such a way as to meet the needs of the individual who is getting that advice?

The committee must now produce its report on the draft regulations. Are members content to delegate responsibility to the deputy convener and me to agree that report on behalf of the committee?

Members indicated agreement.