Chamber and committees

Good morning. I have two questions. The first is a direct question for Marsha Scott, and I then have an open question to the other witnesses.

Marsha, I have spoken to you at three informal meetings and you have responded to two formal consultations. From my recollection—and according to the minutes that I have from our one-to-one meeting in July—you said that my bill is moving in the right direction. You had said that you would be happy to support the creation of the register with the addition of some amendments to address certain things—for example, to add that the register should include information on where the perpetrator works, because we had said that it would include the address where someone lives.

I was therefore really surprised to see your latest written response, given that I have been working with you throughout the process to ensure that we have good legislation. I used the whole summer to speak to a lot of organisations, including 22 Women’s Aid organisations, the majority of which were supportive of my bill. That was also reflected in the consultation responses, with five Women’s Aid organisations indicating their support for the bill and specifically the register—

Would it help if I summed up what I heard today and you could all say whether you agree? I have heard from you that the issues are resources and funding, and how the bill is going to work with existing structures.

Thank you.

Because of the time, I cannot come back on that, so I will just go on to my next question, if that is okay.

Sorry, convener.

As Marsha Scott knows, I have concerns that organisations that are funded by the Scottish Government may say one thing publicly and another in informal settings, as their views may lead to funding being withdrawn. What has changed from what you said previously?

I thank all the witnesses for coming to discuss my bill. We are going through the 16 days of activism against sex-based violence, so it is important to raise awareness of domestic abuse. We know that, year after year, the number of cases is getting higher, and repeat offending is rising, too. Many survivors who I have spoken to have said that things have not changed. From the consultation responses, and from the evidence that we have heard today, we see that there is some support for the creation of a domestic abuse register and for the other aspects of the bill.

Some of you have indicated where amendments would be needed to improve the bill. My goal is to make good legislation so, if the bill passes stage 1, what improvements should be made at stage 2 to ensure that survivors feel safe and that the burden on public authorities is as minimal as possible?

Tumay Forster can go first.

Thank you, convener, and good morning to the committee, minister and officials.

I thank the committee for considering amendment 3, which is particularly important as we mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. My amendment would give ministers the power to require the Scottish Funding Council to place conditions on anybody receiving funding for post-school education and skills training to ensure that they take meaningful steps towards addressing gender-based violence against staff and students.

In turn, the body in question must report on an annual basis to the Funding Council on the actions that it has taken to prevent and intervene in gender-based violence, and to provide support to individuals who are experiencing or have experienced it, as well as the outcomes of those actions.

I am happy not to move my amendment, and I will take up the offer to work with the minister ahead of stage 3. I also thank the minister for recognising all the great work that EmilyTest has done.

Amendment 3 not moved.

Amendment 51 not moved.

Amendment 52 moved—[Maggie Chapman].

Right now, there is no uniformity across colleges. I will speak further about why I lodged amendment 3. A tragedy happened, and many tragedies are continuing to happen. It is important for the committee to hear that the situation is not uniform. I know that personally, because I have been working on this stuff outside the Parliament by speaking to colleges and universities about that sort of training and awareness.

While drafting the amendment, I engaged with Fiona Drouet from EmilyTest. Almost 10 years ago, Fiona’s daughter Emily took her own life after suffering abuse from a partner who lived in the same halls as her at the University of Aberdeen. Had the university staff received adequate training in identifying such abusive behaviour, Emily might still be with us today.

We know that one in four female students report unwanted sexual behaviour during their studies, with one in five experiencing sexual harassment during their first week of term. Those are shocking figures. That is why it is so important that anybody who receives funding not only delivers education and training but ensures the safety and wellbeing of those who rely on their services.

I have raised many times in this committee the example of the Highland woman who had to contact 116 legal aid lawyers regarding her divorce case. If that was not bad enough, last week we heard shocking evidence from Dr Luis Yanes from the Scottish Human Rights Commission and from Alan Webb from Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, who painted an even bleaker picture. I was shocked by examples of abused women having to travel for hours to access support, even on ferries and sometimes wearing the same clothes as they were wearing when abused.

The full extent is not known as many survivors do not feel comfortable coming forward due to a lack of support mechanisms. The fact that women’s aid organisations are underfunded does not help either.

Minister, can you imagine what these women are facing? How will the Scottish Government ensure that people, especially women, in rural areas have access to support and advice when they need it?