Seòmar agus comataidhean

I welcome Jackie Baillie to the committee. I am pleased that you have been able to come along.

In your opening statement, you commented on the question that I wanted to ask. Who could disagree with the purpose of the cross-party group? However, I did not see anything about how people with lived experience of long Covid can help to shape, improve and enhance services and service provision in a positive and constructive way. I know that Long Covid Scotland wants to do that, but I did not see that reflected in the purpose of the group. It is up to the cross-party group to shape its work programme, but what you have put on the record gives me confidence that that will be a key part of the group’s objectives. I do not know whether you want to add anything to that.

I am sure that Mr Mountain and the minister do not look very different from how they looked 12 years ago—they looked old then, too. [Laughter.]

On the substantive question, Mr Mountain has made a reasonable point on consultation, as you have also done, minister. You mentioned that COSLA is consulted, as is the political parties panel. The next time that the Government consults both COSLA and the political parties panel, can they be reminded that they should be as extensive in their own consultation with councillors and party activists across the country? There is a joint responsibility—the job of consultation is not just for Government but is also for political parties and COSLA, and we need to hold to account appropriately each organisation that has that job of consultation, not just the Government. After the election, it would be good, when you have that discussion, if the Government reminded COSLA and political parties to have that consultation internally.

That was a really interesting line of questioning, but there is a general policy agreement across the Parliament. I know that some members did not support prisoner voting, but there is a clear majority for it. The policy intent is to ensure that the maximum number of prisoners who are entitled to vote can exercise that democratic right as part of their journey. The issue is about citizenship rights and responsibilities, and there is a broad agreement in the Parliament that that is what we should do. I wonder, minister, whether, after the next elections, you would review what difference sending polling cards to prisons rather than home addresses makes.

The underlying issue is that very few prisoners register to vote in the first place and, I suspect, very few eventually cast their vote. I suspect that the change is about encouraging more people in custody to exercise their democratic right. We want to make sure that the measure has had a positive effect. I am minded to support the statutory instrument, but, after the next election, I would be keen to see a review and analysis of the impact that the measure has had.

Good morning. I just want to take this opportunity of Rona Mackay’s appearance to ask a brief question that, I think, reflects a constituency interest. I know that alternatives to custody for women will be part of the group’s work. Frankly, we are failing too many women by locking them up. One of the new smaller custodial units for women is being developed in Maryhill, in my constituency, and we are all very keen to see what difference these establishments make in ensuring that women whose being held in such a unit is unavoidable still have access to their families and wider support mechanisms and are not cut off from that wider family group. As the new units come online over the course of this parliamentary session, will looking at their effectiveness or otherwise form part of the work of the cross-party group?

Thanks for coming along, Sarah. I know that it is a busy morning for you. I had not intended to ask a question, but I looked at the list of cross-party groups that have been approved. You mentioned the music sector, and that list includes a cross-party group on music. There is clearly room for it and your group to exist, but what might the relationship between them be? The CPG on music might consider a variety of matters that the cross-party group for which you seek approval might seek to consider. Would you consider partnership working or common themes? Do you have any thoughts on that?

I anticipated that that would be the answer, but it is in the nature of such exchanges that we ask certain questions. Overlap is a theme that comes up quite often. It is not specific to your proposed cross-party group but is a general matter that the committee considers.

I just wanted to give you the opportunity to put that on the record.

I thank the minister for that response. Those are helpful reassurances. I have no further questions.

Given that the minister is here, it would be a shame not to ask one or two questions, to make full use of his time.

I note from the meeting papers that the Scottish Government’s concerns included the UK secretary’s power to appoint the chair and first chief executive officer for ARIA and the possibility of other appointments by the UK Government at future dates that would change the dynamic within ARIA. What is the current situation with that? Have concerns been fully resolved around ensuring that there is no political interference in the independence of the organisation?

No, I am content, convener.