The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 801 contributions
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
Thank you, and I am happy to go to Louise Long, if that is all right. I have three areas of questioning. The convener will be glad to hear that I do not propose to ask all five panellists each question. Louise, will you pick up on the interpreter issue?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
I have a final line of questioning, if that is all right?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
I want to follow on from my colleague Paul O’Kane by asking about access to services and support.
I will start with Bronagh Andrew. What more can the Scottish Government and local authorities do to increase the consistency of support that asylum seekers receive? Would it be beneficial if a lot more was free at the point of access, such as, for example, bus passes? I know that that is quite a broad question, but I am trying to find another way to ask a question on a similar area to Paul’s.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
Just following on from my colleague’s line of questioning, I note that, in the earlier evidence session—you might have heard some of it—there was a wee bit of discussion about interpreters and access to interpreters for asylum seekers. Can panellists tell the committee about the provision and use of language interpreters across Scotland? I am trying to think who on the panel is best placed to answer. I will start with Gayle Findlay, for the COSLA perspective, and see where we go from there.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
Thanks very much for that, Susanne, and I thank the other witnesses. We have heard in both evidence sessions this morning, and previously, that this is an issue that the committee can certainly take forward.
I want to ask about asylum seekers and refugees who need mental health support. How readily available is that support for asylum seekers? Do they know and understand that they can access it? I am looking at you, Dr Nina Koruth. Perhaps you can come in on that.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
How can local authorities and government more widely be ahead of the game and know which interpreters are needed? How could that information be shared so that a local authority, such as North Lanarkshire Council, which covers the area that I represent, could say what interpreters might be required. Who would be able to provide information in response to that? Would it be the Government? Would it be the third sector?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
It strikes me that that could be a really difficult and complicated issue. I recently held an event for a large number of Ukrainian refugees who have settled in Coatbridge. We got all the folk in place, but, unfortunately, the interpreter who was due to come could not make it on the day. The Member of Parliament and I were about to address the refugees who came, and it just so happened that a lady who was there was able to interpret. It is a massive issue.
Claire Dobson and Elaine Tomlinson, in your dealings with people, do you recognise Bronagh Andrew’s comments about interpreters? Is that an issue, or do you always have access to interpreters?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
I think that it should be Paul O’Kane next.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 3 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
Russell Findlay has asked exactly the question that I was going to ask about the game on Sunday. However, rather than withdraw my question as I would usually do, given that it is your first appearance at the committee, I will take the opportunity to formally welcome you to your new role, minister, and I will try to ask my question slightly differently.
We have spoken about the old firm match on Sunday, which was disrupted by flares, right on cue for your appearance at the committee today, minister. You have already had an exchange with Russell Findlay on that, and I do not expect additional answers, but has the Government had discussions with any of the authorities about possible harms that were caused on the day? Has any initial analysis been done of how the provisions in the act that come into force in June might have prevented or alleviated what happened on Sunday?
I realise that you have almost answered that question, but I have tried to put a slightly different angle on it.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 2 May 2023
Fulton MacGregor
Good morning. I thank members of the panel for what has been—like last week’s session—another powerful session. Thank you all for coming here to advocate for the most vulnerable in our society and doing so in such an impassioned way.
By this stage, a lot of the issues have already been discussed. We have already touched on the Illegal Migration Bill; most of you will be aware that there was a debate about it in the chamber last week, in which many of us took part. It is an abhorrent piece of legislation, as I think our witnesses all recognise. As a committee, it has been put to us that a broader humanitarian strategy that incorporated strategies that are already in place might be a better way to address and mitigate any consequences of the Illegal Migration Bill.
I wonder whether anyone would like to comment on that. Given the number of people on the panel, I am happy to pass back to the convener to see who wants to come in.