Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning, panel. I have a couple of questions, which I will direct to Emma Congreve first.

How much will other budget lines be affected by increases in social security spending?

Correct.

Good morning, minister. I do not know whether I missed this, but carers allowance supplement was going to be kept at its higher rate after Covid. Has that just fallen by the wayside?

Is there a risk that budget cuts are a false economy? How do you assess the risk that they will just push more people into the social security system?

My last question is for both of you. Should the minister be open and publish what budget cuts are being foreseen to pay for further social security spending?

My next question will also be for Mariam Ahmed and Tumay Forster. Is there sufficient funding in the system to allow for language-trained staff who are also trained in dealing with trauma? If not, what would it take for the situation to be improved?

Good morning. I have a very short question. I have heard black and minority ethnic people say that they feel uncomfortable going to a dedicated BME organisation because they feel that the community is so small and that word can get out. Socially and culturally, they feel very uncomfortable. What is your view on that? Marsha Scott said that more investment is needed, but should work be done on language, too? How can that effect be mitigated? Should people be referred to wider services rather than to a BME organisation?

Amina has touched on this and I will be directing this question to Amina. I have heard examples of people in BME communities being reluctant to visit specialist services for that community due to the community being so close that it will inevitably get out one way or another and there may be repercussions for them socially. How can that effect be mitigated? Is there an argument for wider services being more prepared to deal with cases for BME communities? Mariam, you have touched on that already. You said that it could come back on victims, and you might want to touch on that as well and say how what is done about that could be stronger.

Good morning. I share the pain that Micheleine Kane has spoken about. I have one question for her. What could we do with the social security powers that we have in Scotland to help kinship carers?

My second question is for all the panel members. What barriers exist to kinship carers gaining the benefits to which they are entitled, and what problems exist with the current system of entitlements?

No, thank you.