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Chamber and committees

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 26 April 2025
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Displaying 888 contributions

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Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 16 May 2023

Fulton MacGregor

It will be small, and it might already have been answered. Given what the convener has said, panel, if that is the case, please say so.

This is probably for John Taylor, although Caroline O’Connor might be able to respond, too. A question that has come to mind during these evidence sessions is how you actually manage a situation in which asylum seekers are coming from different countries or different regions. Is Mears, or are other organisations, aware of any difficulties in that respect, and how are they managed? I realise that that is a very general question.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 16 May 2023

Fulton MacGregor

Do you have anything to add, Caroline?

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 16 May 2023

Fulton MacGregor

Good morning. First, I offer my apologies for attending most of the meeting remotely, via an online connection. The reason for that was significant delays on the Airdrie-Bathgate train line today, which I am sure will be reported on, given the extent of them.

I have a few questions, convener. I hope that you will have some sympathy with my travel woes and allow me to ask them. Will that be all right?

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 16 May 2023

Fulton MacGregor

I have just one final question, convener, if that is okay.

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.