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That is what we will try to establish through follow-up communication.

Do members have any further questions?

I know Heart of Newhaven well, being the constituency MSP. That community asset transfer was very successful, and I pay tribute to all the people who were involved in making it happen. Several of them had significant time, as they had stopped working, and were very knowledgeable about how to make the system work for the benefit of the community, which created a good outcome.

Do you have any further reflections on how critical it is that we have individuals with enthusiasm, knowledge and determination, as well as foresight? Indeed, that project came about because there was an early awareness in the community that an asset was coming on stream as the primary school moved into another part of Newhaven.

As a wider point in those considerations, community asset transfers are sometimes led by specific groups of individuals, such as in the case of Heart of Newhaven. However, individuals in community councils are often important, too. Through their general considerations as community councillors, they can be involved in community groups and the community council. With the on-going wider considerations around the local governance review, how important do you see community councils as being?

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which includes the fact that I am on the roll of Scottish solicitors.

I have a general point, but I do not know whether this is the right juncture and whether you are content for me to come in, convener.

Thank you.

I want to ask about the evidence that has been given thus far. I note the point from my colleague Mr O’Kane about immigration law being a reserved matter, but all the evidence that I have seen over several years is that migrants make a net contribution and that there is not just a wider social benefit but an economic one. Most of the areas in which asylum seekers are placed in Scotland are experiencing labour shortages.

I appreciate that Caroline O’Connor might be able to say more about this than John Taylor but, where you can comment, I would be interested to hear your reflections on how much benefit it would bring if we took a sensible approach that allowed asylum seekers to work and to participate in the economy. They could then begin to make their net contribution at an earlier stage. They could access resource, build their skills and help themselves to get housing, and they could contribute to society as much as those who successfully make their way through the asylum system.

That was very helpful, thank you.

Good morning to the panel, and thank you for being with us. I want to follow up on Sarah Latto’s first two answers.

In your first answer, you identified one particular community organisation that had seen a 5 per cent increase in its volunteering, but in your second answer you talked about the challenges of the cost of living and how that has had the impact of hampering volunteering. Are there any specifics from the example that you gave in your first answer that would be worth considering with regard to why that particular organisation has seen an increase in volunteering?

It has been interesting to hear your reflections on how, through this proactive initiative, the projects have created interest and engagement, and have had huge benefits for those involved. Last week, we heard some interesting evidence about how the pressures on people’s time, particularly as a result of the cost of living and the challenges that it presents to households, can be a barrier. From your experience and the Culture Collective’s 26 projects, is there anything that you want to convey to us about the challenge of enabling people to have the time to participate locally in culture?