I will let Jeremy Balfour in in a second, because we have time for that, but first I want to pursue another point that Alison made, which was about advice and assistance and benefit take-up strategies.
In October, the Scottish Government published its take-up strategy for benefits that are either already devolved or which soon will be. The people whom we all serve do not distinguish between whether a service or support is provided by their local authority, by the Scottish Government or by the United Kingdom Government; they really just want co-ordinated, strategic services and support at a place and time of their choosing, when they need it and with as few barriers as possible.
There is almost a contradiction in the system. Last week in Glasgow, I had the privilege of meeting advice workers who represented local authorities across Scotland, including some from Mr Gass’s organisation. The appeal that came from the floor was that local authorities are best placed to co-ordinate local advice and support services in a strategic way, although of course that must be done in partnership with the Government. However, if I were to speak to Citizens Advice Scotland, it might say that it is best placed to do that, and the Scottish Government might make a similar claim.
The other day, committee members visited Wester Hailes, where we saw good-quality, granular support networks that help people who have entitlements but also have barriers to claiming benefits.
I am just trying to give context to the question whether, across Scotland, there should be one approach to welfare advice and support in relation to the global sum of funding that exists, irrespective of whether it involves a UK or a Scottish benefit or a local authority form of support. If so, should that be co-ordinated through local authorities?
I have a question for Judith Paterson. If we were to roll up local examples of best practice to share nationally, could that squeeze out some of the granular, good-quality local providers? CPAG does exceptional work, but I can imagine a situation in which it might bid for a Scotland-wide service that replaces funding that previously went to a small local provider.
I am trying to outline a context in which the system is fragmented. The funding might be unclear with regard to the global sum of money that goes into the system and the funding that is given as part of the individual strands for which organisations bid at the local authority, Scotland-wide and UK levels.
I am not trying to paint a picture in which things are not working, because there is a lot of good practice. However, we are looking at a Scottish Government benefit take-up strategy, and we have before us Richard Gass, who is trying to co-ordinate local authorities not just in his own area of Glasgow but across Scotland. Is the system fragmented? Should there be a one-Scotland approach? Should we map out the funding that exists? How do we know that the various organisations are meeting the outcomes that we want them to meet?
There is no one question there—I am simply hoping that the witnesses will reflect on how we can improve the strategic co-ordination of advice, support and benefit take-up activity. It is probably only fair that I allow Richard Gass to start, now that I have put that all on the record.