Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning, Caroline O’Connor and John Taylor. Thank you for your opening statements.

This question is for John. Our committee papers state that Mears has an obligation to keep a daily attendance record of people in initial accommodation. What data do you collect and record, and how is that data used? Do you think that better information sharing between your organisation and the Home Office and local authorities would be helpful?

Can the Scottish Government make any change or improvement to help a little bit more? Also, has there been a change since you started providing that support, given that you have reached out with 400 third-party places? Do you think that change is happening? What improvements can be made?

Thank you.

I thank the witnesses for their opening statements.

In previous sessions, witnesses referred to the differences between the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees and that of other refugees and asylum seekers. They often painted a picture that Ukrainian refugees are treated more favourably. However, at the weekend, it was revealed that more than 7,500 Ukrainian refugees are still in temporary accommodation and that some have been moved around the country. Can you talk a little about that? Did the Scottish Government overestimate its ability to cope with the number of Ukrainian refugees? What impact has the drastic housing shortage had on the ability to provide more stable accommodation in a community-based setting?

Having third-party reporting centres is a great initiative. There are 400 places, and people want to add to that. I deal with domestic abuse and things like that, so I know that it is important that those affected can get support by walking into a coffee place, for instance.

Thank you for that information.

Good morning, panel. Thank you so much for your opening statements.

Last week, when I asked about trafficking and exploitation, I was told that, too often, victims do not want to deal with the police, so they are supported, in the first instance, by the third sector, perhaps through a joined-up approach with Police Scotland. What sort of partnership working do you undertake with the third sector in this area? Do you foresee any changes or improvements being made? I will start with Elaine Tomlinson, because she mentioned trust. As a woman from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background, I understand that, in other countries—I am thinking of my mother—there is less trust in the police, so when she mentioned that, it resonated with me. Is there a language barrier as well?

Convener, can I ask my second question now or do you want me to come back to it?

You have mentioned racism. We need to know the causes. You also mentioned the language barrier, which is not only a barrier to integration and getting about but is a factor in accessing healthcare. It is so important. People come from various backgrounds and religions and we must be very careful not to offend—I fully agree with you—by lifting somebody’s top and so on, so we should be looking at language.

I have mentioned at an earlier committee meeting that we should not be delivering ESOL only through the usual sources but through community sources, including mosques, gurdwaras, synagogues and so on, and other places where people go to study. Is that something that you are in favour of?

I have a quick question. You have raised a lot of things that the Scottish Government can do. I want to talk about access to healthcare.

Back in January, the Scottish Parliament was made aware of a case of a 22-year-old refugee who flew back to a war zone to see a doctor rather than wait for treatment in Scotland on the NHS. Would you agree that more needs to be done by the Scottish Government about access to services, especially health services? Educational services were also mentioned earlier, and you also touched on mental health. What can the Scottish Government do?