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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 4 April 2025
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Displaying 884 contributions

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Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 16 May 2023

Fulton MacGregor

I really appreciate that, convener. I apologise if I missed anything and my questions have been answered. If that is the case, please just say so.

My first question is for John Taylor. I know that Mears has been looking at forming a housing association. Are you able to update on any progress around that? How might that impact the work that you do with asylum seekers?

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 9 May 2023

Fulton MacGregor

I had another question, but, in the interests of time, that is okay.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 9 May 2023

Fulton MacGregor

That is a very detailed description of some of the services and the way in which they are and can be delivered, and I thank you for that. Do you have any idea of how much asylum seekers and refugees know that they can access those services? Do you feel that they are accessed regularly and that there is a general understanding that they can be accessed? Whether asylum seekers and refugees want to access them is a different issue. Do you think that we can do more to ensure that people understand that they can access that support should they wish to?

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

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

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

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

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

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

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

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

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

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

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

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

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

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?