Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you, minister. When the committee considered the budget process last year, we decided that, for this session of the Parliament, we would have a focus on human rights budgeting. We knew that we were at the start of the process and that the committee, Parliament and Government were all leading the way on that work. It would be good to see what that means for you. One thing that we did last year was to ask other committees to recognise that human rights are not just for this committee. I am pleased that a couple of the other parliamentary committees have specifically considered human rights within their remits as part of their budget process.

One of the first things that we did as part of the budget process this year was to hear directly from a number of organisations in a public round-table session last week. No doubt you have seen a note of that. We also heard directly from People First in private. It was important for us to hear people’s lived experience of what budgeting means for them. We heard from People First and the wider panel of witnesses that, for people to be part of the budget process, they need to be able to understand and see it.

Transparency and participation came through as themes last week, so some of the committee members will focus on those issues. One clear point concerned people being able to access the budget documentation. There was a call for all documentation, particularly the explainers—the parts of the budget documentation that say what something means for someone as an individual or for a particular group—to be in EasyRead format and other formats, such as British Sign Language. What progress is the Government making on making not just the main budget documents but the accompanying documents available in formats that allow people to participate?

Thank you. I said that Pam Duncan-Glancy could come back in briefly.

I will bring in Pam Gosal in the interests of time, but I will come back to you if I can.

Time is against us. I give huge thanks to the minister and her officials for attending and giving evidence. We will now move into private session.

I call Pam Duncan-Glancy.

Fulton MacGregor has asked a very big question, and everybody has indicated that they want to contribute. However, time is against us and I ask everyone to keep their responses tight.

Pam, just so that you know, Oonagh, Clare and Allan all want to come in.

Thanks very much. Time is against us, unfortunately. I know that all the committee members have further areas that they would like to explore, but there will be other opportunities. The session has been helpful to us, so I thank you all for your time and your contribution today.

That concludes the public part of our meeting. We now move into private session.

We will go to Jillian Matthew first.

Callum Chomczuk would like to come in briefly.