Seòmar agus comataidhean

I will follow on from that point. I may just stick with Davie Donaldson, initially. Obviously, the racism that Scotland’s Gypsy Traveller community experiences is not internationally unique. Every day, we see the horrors of what is happening in Ukraine, where the Gypsy Traveller community experiences the same sort of racism as does the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community in Russia. Does anyone want to say a few words about that and about the experience of refugees who come to Scotland? I will go to Davie first, because it follows on from what he was saying.

Yes, that is okay. We will hear first from Maureen Finn.

Are those questions aimed at anyone in particular, Pam?

Fulton, will you direct the question? Otherwise, broadcasting does not know where to direct the camera.

It would be good to move on. If Suzanne has something in particular to say, I am sure that she will find a point at which to get back in.

Thank you.

If they are on the same area, yes. I then have a couple of other folk to bring in.

Agenda item 2 is an evidence session on the lives of Gypsy Travellers in Scotland. I refer members to papers 1 and 2. I welcome our witnesses to the meeting. Suzanne Munday is Gypsy/Traveller programme manager at the Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project, Dr Lynne Tammi is from AyeRight, Dr Maureen Finn is from the Scottish Traveller Education Programme, Leslie Drury is national co-ordinator at Article 12 in Scotland, and Davie Donaldson is from Progress in Dialogue.

Thank you all for attending to give evidence today. You are all very welcome. When you wish to answer a question, please indicate that by typing the letter R in the chat box. I will do my best to bring you in, and my clerks will keep an eye on that to make sure that we are not missing anybody.

To start off, I ask each of our witnesses to make a short opening statement, starting with Suzanne Munday.

Good morning and welcome to the ninth meeting in 2022 of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Under agenda item 1, does the committee agree to take item 3, which is consideration of the evidence that we will hear today, in private?

Members indicated agreement.

We will go to Davie first, as he mentioned the programme in his opening summary.