Seòmar agus comataidhean

The next item on our agenda is consideration of an affirmative instrument. The purpose of the instrument is to amend the Registration of Social Workers and Social Service Workers in Care Services (Scotland) Regulations 2013 to reduce the period of time that workers have to apply for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council, with the requirement now being that they do so within three months of starting a new role. The policy note states that the objective is to encourage social workers and social service workers to apply for registration sooner after starting work, which will allow the assessment of an applicant’s fitness to practise at an earlier stage, providing greater public protection.

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 19 March 2024 and made no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

We will have an evidence session with the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise and supporting officials on the instrument. Once we have had all our questions answered, we will proceed to a formal debate on the motion.

I welcome to the committee Natalie Don, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise; Rona Carson, who is a lawyer from the Scottish Government legal directorate; and Jamie McIntyre, who is team lead for the Scottish Social Services Council sponsorship team in the Scottish Government. I invite the minister to make a brief opening statement.

Thank you, minister. I move to questions.

Minister, you will be aware that stakeholders have concerns about the appointment of Sir Jonathan Montgomery and about the lack of transparency on the expert group’s membership which, I believe, has not been published or publicised. I am keen to hear the Scottish Government’s view on the anonymity of the group’s membership.

Good morning, and welcome to the 11th meeting in 2024 of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I have received apologies from Tess White. Sandesh Gulhane and Emma Harper are joining us remotely.

Agenda item 1 is to decide whether to take items 3 and 4 in private. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Agenda item 2 is consideration of one negative instrument. The purpose of the instrument is to allow employers and members of the public to see more information about persons who are on the register that is kept by the Scottish Social Services Council under section 44 of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 19 March 2024 and made no recommendation in relation to it. No motion to annul has been lodged in relation to the instrument.

Given that no member has indicated that they wish to comment, I propose that the committee make no recommendation in relation to the instrument. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.?

That concludes the public part of our meeting.

I appreciate that we have already gone over time, but I believe that Sandesh Gulhane has a question. If we could have a brief question and a short answer, that would be wonderful.

Thank you, minister. One member of the committee wishes to speak.

The question is, that motion S6M-12220 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

There will be a division.

For

Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunnninghame South) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)

Against

Gulhane, Dr. Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Region) (Con)