Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you. I will leave it there, given the time.

You touched on the work that has been done to improve the data collection that we do. The equality data improvement plan is under way, but you have spoken about the work that Lesley Irving will be doing. I am interested in joining the dots between the data that we get and how we fund third sector and other organisations to deliver support and other services. As you will know, one of the key challenges for many third sector organisations is project-focused funding, which does not necessarily allow for full cost recovery, full backroom support and a trauma-informed approach.

How is your thinking developing when it comes to joining the dots on the data that we know we need to collect, which evidences need and therefore allows us to provide the expert support organisations that are out there with the full funding that they need, rather than just covering the front-line service delivery costs?

Thank you both for those answers. Nick, I might pick your brains about that in future, outwith the committee.

Thank you for that information, minister. You talked about the primary prevention work that is going on. I am very familiar with some of that, especially the work in schools. Has there been any attempt to co-ordinate the continuation of that work into further and higher education? I know that the fearless projects in Glasgow and Edinburgh are well off the ground across university campuses, but it is important to have an overview of that work and ensure that White Ribbon Scotland is involved.

We also need to ensure that that work is done not only in the central belt but across universities and college campuses elsewhere, because they function within the same patriarchal system as the rest of us do. Do you have any comments on connections more widely with our further and higher education institutions?

Super. That is reassuring.

On the monitoring, which you mentioned, we heard last week that the accommodation fund is really welcome but that it has come quite slowly and there is not always follow-up to ensure that it is being spent in appropriate ways. Would one way to help that work be to include a statutory requirement for public bodies, such as local authorities and health boards, to set out delivery plans? We heard that recommendation from one of our witnesses last week. Enshrining such a duty would emphasise that such work was not just a nice to have, but an essential part of what our public agencies and public bodies need to do to help to complete the circle and ensure that there is clear follow-through and delivery.

Good morning, minister. I am really happy to see you with us this morning. Welcome to our committee.

Thank you for opening your remarks by talking about the Gypsy and Roma Traveller communities. Last week’s session was a really important part of the committee’s work. Several concerns were expressed by witnesses last week about the long-term sustainability of Gypsy Traveller communities. Some of those concerns are not new. Davie Donaldson, in particular, said that, five years ago, people were talking about stagnation on work on the action plan and other support.

One thing came out quite strongly. At the start of Covid, there was clear co-ordination across services, but that has now fallen away. Can you comment on how, collectively, we can ensure that the partnership working and the overarching, holistic approach that are needed are not piecemeal but reach into the different areas of policy and support in an effective way that secures the long-term sustainability of Gypsy communities?

Thanks—that is really clear.

Convener, I will be guided by you. I know that Suzanne Munday wants to come back in briefly, but I am conscious that I have maybe hogged the questions, so we should move on.

Thank you—that is helpful.

Davie, you challenged us to move away from gesture politics. I have heard you and others speak about that before. One of the obvious questions is—[Inaudible.]—and what do we need to do differently? Do we need to do something different in our direct engagement with Gypsy Travelling communities? You spoke about the sustainability and continuity of funding being key. There is obviously a gap, disconnect or hole, intentional or otherwise. What are your thoughts on some of the ways through that for us?

Good morning to our witnesses and thank you for giving up your time to join the committee. Thank you for your opening remarks. There is a lot of challenge in what you have already said and there are many areas for the committee and, as Davie Donaldson said in his final comments, for the Government and the country more generally to work on.

Many of the witnesses have talked about the work that local authorities do and the services that they provide, whether that is individually or through COSLA. The action plan mentions the need for close partnership working. There are different levels of responsibility between local government and the Scottish Government, but third sector organisations also play a crucial role.

What are we getting right with partnership working and, more importantly, what are we getting wrong, and what do we need to fix? I will ask each of you in turn. A couple of you have already talked about monitoring and evaluation needing to be comparable across the country, for example. I am interested in specific examples, if you have them and are prepared to talk about them. I will go to Suzanne Munday first.

Thanks—that is really helpful.

Lynne has just spoken about top-down directives and the mismatch or disconnect with the local level. Maureen, you spoke in your opening remarks about the curriculum not necessarily being relevant to a Traveller community’s lives and their experience. Can you give us other examples or explain a little more how we have not got that right?