Seòmar agus comataidhean

I am grateful for that answer. With regard to record keeping and passing on information, I am particularly interested in the justification, if you like, for passing information to the Home Office straight away, even if someone says that they have been a victim of a serious crime such as human trafficking. Would it not be more appropriate to find a system whereby we pass that information to a solicitor, in the first instance, or that there is a discussion with a solicitor or a trusted non-governmental organisation, rather than going straight to the Home Office, which could, very quickly, result in a removal order coming through and that process kicking in?

Do you recognise that there are issues to do with information sharing? Police Scotland has previously said that that is about the safeguarding of victims but not a lot of people recognise that as the best way to protect people.

It would be helpful if Elaine Tomlinson could say something about that. I appreciate your point about working within the confines of the law, but how do we ensure that everyone has access to interpretation services, healthcare and welfare? Is it your view that that is happening across the piece now in Police Scotland? Perhaps Elaine might be able to say more.

I will be. Thank you convener. On Fiona King’s point about childcare, when the 1,140 hours came in for two-year-olds, a lot of work was done to try to get parents back into work. Have you seen any analysis of that, or does the Government need to do more analysis of what happened with the two-year-olds and how we might be able to expand on it and improve it?

That is the concern that has been discussed. To go back to what you said previously, the issue is about how, universally, we create a situation in which people can access services that are well equipped. I represent West Scotland, so I had experience of the situation in Erskine. This is about how we bring people along with us and create a fully integrated community, rather than something on the margins of the community.

The idea of using longer-term Ukrainian resettlement funding for modular or prefab housing has been discussed, but it has been suggested that such housing could, in a sense, become camps, if I can use that expression, which I think we would all be quite uncomfortable with. Are you concerned that, if proper resourcing is not provided and we do not take a long-term look at the issue, we will end up in that scenario?

Those comments are helpful, as some of those issues are common. There has been a pause in the supersponsor scheme in relation to the supply of housing and longer-term accommodation, and a conversation is taking place about using modular accommodation, which is concerning.

We have already heard about the broader challenge that exists, which is not the fault of the refugees who come to this country. Are you concerned about the idea of using modular accommodation? What else do you think needs to be done in the Ukraine scheme, as well as more broadly, to deal with some of those issues?

I am very grateful, convener.

Good morning, panel. We have already touched on a number of areas that I am interested in, particularly the provision of ESOL and other services, so, if it is all right with you, convener, I will ask about the Ukrainian scheme, which has already been referred to this morning. There is a degree of learning to be taken from that; some of it has been positive, but we are also seeing some challenges in that space at the moment.

My question is quite a broad one. What positive learning can be taken from the scheme? Selina Hales, given that you started to touch on issues such as the welcome and the integration model, do you want to start?

I thank the witnesses for an interesting discussion so far. Under theme 3, we will try to pull together a lot of what we have been discussing. Many of the themes that we are interested in have already been touched on.

Ruth Boyle spoke about long-term structural solutions and, under this theme, we want to focus on longer-term approaches. In recent times, we have lived through national emergencies—the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis—so we are interested in how we can restructure and look across the board at policy interventions that could make a long-term difference in protecting people, particularly disabled people, people living with long-term conditions and unpaid carers, and in allowing them to absorb shocks when they come. The committee is also interested in your views on any implications that the design of Scottish social security benefits has for carers and disabled people.

We expect inflation to increase, and prices are still high. What are the implications of that on how Governments should support people during a cost of living crisis that is not abating any time soon?

I am, convener, but I do not appear to be on screen. Can you hear me?

For reference, I am chair of the trustees of the Neilston War Memorial Association, and a member of Enable Scotland.