Fair Work, Skills and Training
Question 1 has been withdrawn. An explanation has been provided in the name of Neil Findlay.
Apprenticeships (Government Support)
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports apprenticeships. (S4O-05687)
The Scottish Government’s highly successful modern apprenticeship programme is a key element of our approach to economic development and youth employment. We have supported more than 190,000 new apprenticeship opportunities since we came into office in 2007. We are on track to meet our commitment to deliver 30,000 new modern apprenticeship opportunities a year by 2020. Last month, the Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training announced that the target for 2016-17 will be 26,000 modern apprenticeship starts.
I have been contacted by representatives of Ardfern Yacht Centre, in Argyll, who are keen to take on an apprentice boat builder to train with their experienced team. They have identified the young person, who is keen to fulfil the role, but they are experiencing problems accessing funding support from Skills Development Scotland, because the formal theory parts of the MA are delivered only at three specialist training colleges in the south of England.
Will the minister investigate the case and encourage SDS to be as flexible as possible, so that that business can take on an apprentice boat builder? After all, Scotland has a fair reputation for building boats and ships of all classes. Was not “Clydebuilt” once a byword for excellence?
I know that this is Mr McGrigor’s last question time—or perhaps not quite, as he might have a few more questions to come this morning. I thank him for providing a copy of his supplementary question, which he tweeted yesterday. That was very helpful.
On the serious question that Mr McGrigor has raised, I will be happy to look into the specific case. SDS is always available to discuss options, and that applies to the member’s constituent, as it applies to anybody else who is seeking to do their best to make young people their business. Nonetheless, I undertake that we will look into the case to see where matters stand.
The last point that Mr McGrigor raised was about Clydebuilt ships. I hope that he is aware of the announcement a couple of weeks ago by Ferguson’s at Port Glasgow that it will take on 150 new apprentices. That is very good news, and I am sure that Mr McGrigor would wish to welcome it.
Many thanks. As ever, short questions and answers are appreciated.
Oil and Gas Sector (Training and Support)
To ask the Scottish Government what training and support it provides to people no longer working in the oil and gas sector. (S4O-05688)
The Scottish Government fully recognises the severe challenges that face the oil and gas sector at this time, and it is doing all that it can to support oil and gas workers. The First Minister established the energy jobs task force, which has achieved a great deal since January 2015, including three large partnership action for continuing employment events, which provided direct redundancy support for over 2,500 people.
We recently announced a £12 million transition training fund that will offer individuals grants to support their redeployment and help people with the costs of maintaining licences. We are also providing an extensive network of support through our economic development and skills agencies.
I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer, but can she give us some more detail on how the training to work in tourism, food and drink, and life sciences is made accessible to people in order to create a sustainable, diverse economic future for the north-east?
Aberdeen and the north-east are central to driving future growth and prosperity in Scotland, which is why we have invested so much money in the Aberdeen city region deal, with £125 million from the Government. Skills Development Scotland is working with industry on the development and refresh of the skills investment plans with the aim of attracting new entrants to life sciences, tourism, and food and drink, and SDS is extending that approach to include regional skills investment plans, which will recognise the diverse needs of the regional areas across Scotland such as, particularly, the north-east.
The successful modern apprenticeship programme also offers young people the opportunity to start a new career and to earn a wage while learning the skills that they will need throughout their chosen career.
If the member wants a specific example of the work that is happening, I direct him to the charity Springboard, which is working with SDS to deliver a range of initiatives to encourage and support more young people and adults into the hospitality sector and equip them with the skills that they will need to sustain employment and thrive within it. Springboard is engaged with eight schools in the area with regard to its future chef project, whereby all schools have been paired with a mentor chef from industry.
The cabinet secretary said that 2,500 people have been supported through the three very welcome PACE events that have been held so far under the auspices of the energy jobs task force. Can she tell us how many of those 2,500 people have since secured employment?
I do not have information on how many people have gone on to secure employment out of that particular 2,500, but many will have. The fact that not everybody has been able to do that is why we have also introduced the transition training fund, which is a further specific £12 million that will give direct grants to individuals to support their redeployment. Opportunities are available for people to redeploy, and we hope that they will take them up where possible.
Developing the Young Workforce Programme
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the developing the young workforce programme. (S4O-05689)
The first developing the young workforce annual report, which was published in December 2015, showed that we are making good progress on better preparing young people for the world of work. Key developments to date include the expansion of work-related skills and qualifications such as the new foundation apprenticeship, the introduction of new national standards and guidance for work placements and careers education, offering careers advice earlier in schools, and the development of closer partnerships between employers and education, with 14 new regional employer groups being set up across Scotland.
Can the minister outline what role businesses in the Highlands and Islands and indeed across the rest of Scotland should play in supporting the programme?
I mentioned in my first answer one of the action points—the development of the regional developing the young workforce groups. They are industry led and they provide a fundamental bridge between education and business. They involve local businesses and they build on what was already there. We will support the setting up of the regional groups and we aim to have 21 groups across Scotland. There are 14 to date, including those in north Highland, Moray, Inverness and central Highland, and west Highland.
We hope that all members will rally round the regional groups as they are rolled out across Scotland so that we all do our best to bring on young people and ensure that they are ready for the world of work.
Over-25s (Training)
To ask the Scottish Government what training opportunities it offers people over the age of 25. (S4O-05690)
We view Scotland’s people as our greatest asset. The Government therefore recognises that responding to the skills and training needs of individuals enables them to meet their full potential and is a prerequisite of inclusive economic growth.
On training support for adults, there is a range of provision in colleges, universities, communities and workplaces, and through Skills Development Scotland, our national skills agency, which provides professional careers advice and training support to individuals of all ages. Specific initiatives include modern apprenticeships for those aged 25 and over in key growth sectors, direct support from the SDS individual learning account programme for low-paid, low-skilled and unemployed individuals and in-work support via the Scottish Trades Union Congress Scottish union learning programme.
The minister will be aware that the cutting of 152,000 college places by the Scottish Government has disproportionately affected older learners. Audit Scotland’s report “Scotland’s colleges 2015” shows that there are 41 per cent fewer students over 25 in our colleges than there were in 2008-09. Given that older learners are often the furthest removed from the labour market and other training opportunities, will the minister outline the steps that the Scottish Government has taken to help people over 25 to access training in Scotland?
On colleges, we have exceeded our undertaking to maintain full-time-equivalent places, and there are more than 119,000 FTE places. We make no bones about focusing on courses that will lead to progression to work and further educational opportunities to the benefit of the individuals concerned.
On opportunities for the over-25s, as I said, the MA programme is available to provide some support for over-25s in key growth sectors, such as the food and drink sector, in which 63 per cent of modern apprentices are 25 or over.
In relation to digital technologies, the transition training programme supports individuals to gain key skills that are required by information and communications technology employers in the Highlands and Islands. We expect some 40 per cent of the individuals who benefit from the transition training fund for people in the oil and gas sector to be over 25. The cabinet secretary referred to the programme, which will of course be available to the over-25s.
We are determined to ensure that we do the best that we can across the piece for people who seek work. Of course, the devolution of employment support services will happen shortly, but I am sad to say to Cameron Buchanan that the new powers came with, in effect, an 87 per cent cut from Westminster. Nonetheless, we will do our best to continue to help people who need a bit of help to get into work.
Commission on Widening Access (Recommendations)
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the final report of the commission on widening access regarding improving skills among the workforce. (S4O-05691)
The commission highlighted the importance of teachers and early years practitioners being equipped with an understanding of the challenges that are faced by people from deprived communities and of how such a background impacts on learning. However, the report does not contain a formal recommendation on the matter. We warmly welcomed the report and moved swiftly to accept a number of key recommendations. We will give careful consideration to the remainder of the report. If we are re-elected, we will publish a formal response early in the new session of the Parliament.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that, in recommendation 29, the Silver report makes clear that not nearly enough is being done to make best use of the relevant data to track learners at colleges and universities and their progression into the workplace, and that such data could provide much more “insightful analyses” in relation to upskilling the labour force across all sectors. What plans does the Scottish Government have to address the issue to do with data?
I have raised the matter directly with my colleague Angela Constance. We always want to ensure that data that is available is used in the best possible way. If it emerges from the commission’s work that that has not been happening to best effect, the issue is likely to be a key one for consideration if we are re-elected and are looking to deliver a formal response to the commission.
Fair Work Convention
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the fair work convention. (S4O-05692)
The fair work convention developed and published its fair work framework on 21 March. The framework sets out the convention’s vision that
“by 2025, people in Scotland will have a world-leading working life where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society.”
The framework then sets out what is meant by “fair work”, why it is important and who the main players are in taking the agenda forward, acknowledging the challenges of doing so. It describes fair work as
“work that offers effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect”.
I welcome the recommendation by the fair work convention. Will the cabinet secretary highlight how that will be taken forward in promoting fair work across public and private sector employers to ensure that workers across Scotland can benefit from fair work in future?
The convention has recognised that real progress will come only through businesses, organisations and trade unions working together to deliver change. It invites everyone in the workplace to become involved and has challenged itself to proactively support the implementation and evolution of the framework. The convention will take that work forward over the coming weeks and months by engaging with and bringing together stakeholders who have an important role to play in the fair work landscape. As with the commission on widening access that I discussed in answer to an earlier question, if we are re-elected to Government, we will provide a formal response in due course.
Living Wage (Care Sector)
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to employers in the care sector to help them pay the living wage. (S4O-05693)
As part of the 2016-17 budget, we have taken action to protect and grow our social care services and deliver our shared priorities by investing a further £250 million in health and social care partnerships. Part of that investment is to enable local authorities to pay a living wage to care workers supporting vulnerable adults, including in the independent and third sectors. It is an ambitious commitment, which we are currently working through with providers and councils. There has been a series of meetings to discuss the investment and we will continue to work in partnership with stakeholders between now and October to ensure effective implementation.
I know that the additional money has been welcomed by many in the sector, but there are still concerns, for example that the issue of differentials will not be addressed by the money that is coming in. Given that the care sector is unusual in that so much of its income comes directly from public funds and therefore there is very little scope to raise additional funds from other sources, which means that if the living wage is paid the money for it has to come from that source, does the cabinet secretary agree that the Scottish Government—whoever it is following the election—needs to continue to work with employers to ensure that the funds coming in are sufficient to meet the ambition that all workers will get the living wage?
Murdo Fraser is correct to say that partnership working is vital and has to continue for the proposal to work. I direct him to the fact that there are five care companies that are accredited living wage employers working in the adult care sector. It is worth flagging up that it is possible for care companies already to be paying the living wage.
The integration joint boards, which are key to taking the work forward, will direct local authorities to commission care from the independent and voluntary sectors on the basis that people will be paid £8.25 an hour. That will give thousands of care workers a pay rise. We would have preferred implementation to be earlier than 1 October, but we have given that extra time to allow the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to do the preparatory work that will be required and is the kind of work that Murdo Fraser is referring to.
The main beneficiaries will be care workers in care homes and home care services provided by independent and voluntary sector providers. I hope that everyone in the Parliament will welcome that.
Pay (Hospitality Sector)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the pay of workers in the hospitality sector. (S4O-05694)
Although the Scottish Government is not able to set pay levels in the third and private sectors, or indeed in the wider public sector in Scotland where employees are not covered by our pay policy, we encourage every organisation, regardless of size or sector to ensure that all staff receive a fair level of pay and, where possible, to pay the living wage. Research suggests that the living wage can enhance productivity, reduce absenteeism and improve staff morale. Those are key advantages for an industry such as hospitality that recognises that excellent customer service impacts favourably on the bottom line.
Does the minister agree that paying the living wage remains a challenge in the hospitality and retail sectors? Greggs, which has a base in my constituency, has expressed opposition to the payment of the living wage. What action is the Scottish Government taking to enforce payment of the living wage in the hospitality and retail sectors in respect of companies with which they have contractual arrangements?
I hear what the member says and I encourage every member to take the opportunity to work with local employers of whatever kind in their constituencies and encourage them to pay the living wage.
I am not aware of the particular circumstances of the example that the member gives, and I am also not aware that the Government has any contractual relationship with that company.
In the broader view, if the Parliament had the powers over the minimum wage that the member’s party did not seek in the Smith commission, we would be in a much better position to enforce payment of a decent wage for our workers in Scotland.
Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights
Affordable Housing (East Kilbride)
To ask the Scottish Government how it will increase affordable housing supply in East Kilbride. (S4O-05696)
The Scottish Government works closely with housing providers throughout South Lanarkshire to increase the supply of affordable housing. In East Kilbride, 238 new affordable homes were built between 2011-12 and 2014-15. We expect to see a further 72 new homes completed in the town by 31 March 2016, another 191 new homes are currently on site and due to complete by 31 March 2017, and land has recently been acquired by a housing association with a Scottish Government grant to provide a further 34 new affordable homes.
The minister will be aware that East Kilbride suffers from a particularly acute social housing shortage. In some measure, that is because of the aggressive right-to-buy policy that was applied when it was a new town. The current Government’s record on affordable housing is certainly beyond that of the previous Administration.
Will the minister confirm that, if the current Government is returned after the election, particular discussion will take place about East Kilbride’s social housing provision?
If it is re-elected, the Government will certainly be willing to discuss with the member and South Lanarkshire Council their plans for affordable housing in East Kilbride. We have increased the resource planning assumption for South Lanarkshire from £10.16 million in 2015-16 to £16.938 million in 2016-17. That is a 66 per cent increase in committed funding in spite of the constraints of the United Kingdom budget cuts.
Inequality
To ask the Scottish Government what policies it has instigated to achieve a greater degree of equality between the most and least wealthy areas of the country. (S4O-05697)
Our commitment to tackling inequality and poverty across Scotland is made clear in the 2015 programme for government, and we have instigated a number of policies to achieve a greater degree of equality across the country during our time in office, including a commitment to support people in Scotland who are affected by the United Kingdom Government’s welfare cuts. The First Minister appointed an independent adviser on poverty and inequality, who has published a series of recommendations in her report “Shifting the Curve”. We also launched a nationwide discussion last year in which we asked people across the country what a fairer Scotland means to them, and a report on the findings was published recently.
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for his response and I welcome many of the initiatives that he highlights, particularly in relation to welfare. I must congratulate him on getting through that answer without once using the word “redistribution”.
I recently heard it said that Scotland is becoming the best place in the world to be middle class. Does the cabinet secretary agree that, when the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities this week produced a manifesto claiming that Scotland’s inequalities are in danger of overtaking countries with which we would not want to be compared—the First Minister’s poverty adviser has said something similar—the real challenge for the next parliamentary session will be for Parliament to turn the rhetoric on inequality into action?
The Government is taking action on a range of fronts. First, we have the highest level of employment in any part of the United Kingdom. Secondly, we are extending the living wage as much as we can. Thirdly, we have improved the social wage. Fourthly, we will use our new powers on social security to maximise equality and reduce poverty in Scotland.
I wish the member, who is not returning to Parliament, all the best. I look forward to working with him in some new capacity in the near future.
Will the cabinet secretary assure us that, rather than concentrating exclusively on the redistribution of wealth through taxation, he will do something to improve labour mobility in Scotland so that the country’s unemployed can move to the areas where the new jobs are created and take up the opportunities that George Osborne has generated through economic growth?
Over the next six weeks, I think that what the Scottish electorate will be saying to the Scottish Tories is, “Get on your bike.”
The Government is doing everything that it possibly can, which is why we have the highest level of employment of any part of the United Kingdom. If we were not burdened by the UK Government’s rather hideous policies, we could do much more for the people of Scotland.
Anti-Poverty Initiatives (Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports anti-poverty initiatives in Glasgow. (S4O-05698)
We fund a number of organisations to deliver anti-poverty initiatives in Glasgow. Those include advice services delivered by Macmillan Cancer Support, the citizens advice network and One Parent Families Scotland and a range of initiatives with the likes of Glasgow Disability Alliance, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, the Fair Share Trust, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector that are aimed at helping people who are affected by poverty and welfare reform.
I hope that the new maternity and early years allowance that the Scottish Government is rolling out will help some of the poorest families in the communities that I represent in Glasgow. I ask the cabinet secretary for some more details on the roll-out of that new allowance and on how many people are likely to benefit in Glasgow.
For a family with two children, the maternity and early years allowance means £1,900-worth of support over the children’s early years, compared with the £500 that is available now. Under the sure start maternity grant, the payment at birth for a first child will increase from £500 to £600 and, reversing the United Kingdom coalition Government’s decision to restrict payments to the first child, we will introduce a £300 payment for second and subsequent children.
However, we also recognise that the disadvantages of poverty affect children not just at birth but at other key stages of their young lives. Therefore, we will make payments of £250 to support families through the transition when children start nursery and again at the start of school.
That is an example of the fairer social security system that we want to achieve in Scotland and of how we are redistributing resources in favour of the most vulnerable members of our society.
I had thought that Mr Doris might declare an interest, given the recent happy birth of his son Cameron. I congratulate him and Mrs Doris on that.
Does the cabinet secretary acknowledge that the good work that Glasgow City Council does in tackling poverty in the city will be vastly affected by the cut of some £130 million as a result of his Government’s funding settlement to the city?
The overall cut to the local government budget is less than 1 per cent of the total revenue expenditure after taking account of the additional money that is being put into social care, so there will be no excuse for Labour-controlled Glasgow City Council to make Glasgow a less fair city than it is.
Residential Care (Self-Funding Payments)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it complies with its social justice policy objectives for self-funding older people in residential care to pay more than local authorities for the same care. (S4O-05699)
Free personal care is available for everyone aged 65 and over in Scotland who has been assessed by the local authority as needing it. Free nursing care is available for people of any age who have been assessed as requiring nursing care services.
We are committed to ensuring that people on the lowest incomes or with the lowest asset wealth continue to receive financial support from their local authorities for their residential care. Two thirds of people in residential care—around 24,000 people—are supported in that way in Scotland. The Scottish Government and the Royal Commission on Long Term Care for the Elderly have been clear that people who can afford to pay for their care should continue to do so while we support people who cannot afford to pay for theirs.
I thank David McLaren in the chamber desk team for randomly selecting me for this question, given that I have been complaining about not being selected for the past year.
And the question is?
How can it be socially just when councils pay about £470 a week for a placement in a care home but a self-funding placement costs well over £1,000? As this is my final question, I will just say that I have been asking this question since 1999. The Labour Party’s response used to refer to a 1951 act of Parliament that forbade it from applying charges equally. With the huge raft of powers that are being devolved to this Parliament, will the Government commit to reviewing the situation to bring about fairness and social justice for all elderly people?
Having heard the supplementary, I am absolutely sure that Mary Scanlon was not randomly picked to ask that question because she has campaigned vigorously on the issue ever since 1999.
I draw Mary Scanlon’s attention to the joint review of residential care services by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which was published about 18 months ago. The issue was among a number of issues that we intend to try to address.
Finally, since this is Mary Scanlon’s last question, I pay tribute to her tremendous service to the Parliament, to the country and particularly to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. She will be sorely missed from this Parliament. [Applause.]
Support to Communities (Highlands and Islands)
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to communities in the Highlands and Islands. (S4O-05700)
The Scottish Government and its public sector partners continue to make significant investment in our communities, including the Highlands and Islands. For example, yesterday we announced a £315 million Inverness and Highland city region deal, including a Scottish Government commitment of up to £135 million over 10 years. The deal, which also includes up to £53 million from the United Kingdom Government and up to £127 million from the Highland Council and its regional partners, contains a package of measures aimed at improving the regional economy. Those include better transport connectivity and digital networks, increases in innovation, more local housing and assisted living schemes.
Communities across the Highlands and Islands are on the front line of council cuts. In my home area, the Highland Council has made cuts of £30 million, with 341 staff facing redundancy. Is the minister aware that, in the Highlands, bereaved families face rocketing burial charges, with an increase of more than 50 per cent, bringing funeral poverty to the region’s most vulnerable people at a time of acute grief?
The council leader places responsibility for the cuts squarely at the door of the Scottish Government settlement. Does the minister agree?
Highland Council is receiving £439 million from the Scottish Government and as my colleague the cabinet secretary has already said, the overall reduction nationally for local government is 1 per cent when the figures for health and social care are taken into account. That money is going towards achieving the living wage for health and social care staff and a further freeze on council tax bills and it is going to deliver great advantages for the whole of the country.
There are clearly challenges that each local authority will have to address in deciding how they want to deal with the financial circumstances. Those are the same financial circumstances and the same challenges that have been striking the entire public sector.
On the issue of funeral poverty in particular, the member will be aware of the work that has been done by the Scottish Government and Citizens Advice Scotland and that was launched by the cabinet secretary relatively recently. We will take forward action from that work.
New Homes
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have been built per head of population since 2007. (S4O-05701)
Under this Government, over the 2007-08 to 2014-15 period, an average of 336 new homes per 100,000 population have been built in Scotland per year across all tenures.
How does that figure compare to England and Wales?
As I have said on a number of occasions, house building rates in Scotland have been consistently higher in each and every year since 2007. The 336 homes built per 100,000 population in Scotland compare with 237 built per 100,000 population in England and 207 homes per 100,000 population in Wales. In percentage terms, that means that over the 2007-08 to 2014-15 period, the rate of building in Scotland has been 42 per cent higher than in England and 62 per cent higher than in Wales.
People and Communities Fund
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the people and communities fund and how it supports community organisations. (S4O-05702)
On Monday I announced a budget of £10.755 million for the people and communities fund in 2016-17, which will support nearly 190 continuing community-led fund projects throughout Scotland with a further year of funding. An evaluation of the people and communities fund will be conducted in 2016 to explore its impact and to understand better how that type of funding supports and empowers communities.
I welcome the minister’s update on the people and communities fund.
What advice could be given to help a local Bellshill group in my region, which requires funding for a traffic report that has been requested by North Lanarkshire Council in order to establish a sports hub, thereby ensuring that the project can gain the best for the local area?
The Government recognises the importance of funding for our community groups to help to empower them to deliver the local priorities that matter most to them. That is why, despite our tight spending review, we have maintained a £20 million commitment to support the family of empowering communities funds in 2016-17.
Local authorities have a key role to play as partners in community groups to help them to realise their local ambitions. I encourage all community groups to use the helpful funding portal provided by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, which can be accessed at www.fundingscotland.com, to help to identify funds that are available in Scotland for their activities. I wish the local group in Richard Lyle’s constituency good luck in facilitating that new enterprise in Bellshill.
Temporary Accommodation (Time Limit)
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a time limit for temporary accommodation. (S4O-05703)
Time limits already exist on the use of unsuitable accommodation for families with children and pregnant women. The provision of temporary accommodation is an important part of local authorities’ duties for homeless households in Scotland and provides a vital safety net for those that require it.
The time that is spent in temporary accommodation should be as short as possible, while suitable and sustainable settled accommodation is found. Moving households through temporary accommodation as quickly as possible should be balanced with a person-centred approach that considers the particular needs and housing options of individual households.
Local authorities report significant increases in the length of time that is spent in temporary accommodation. Typical stays in temporary accommodation are now more than seven months, and for some people it can be up to two years. Will the cabinet secretary support a reduction in the length of time that homeless people have to spend in unsuitable temporary accommodation to 14 days? Will she extend provisions on standards in the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004 to include single homeless people and families without children?
We are continually reviewing the use of temporary accommodation for all homeless people. From the end of March 2016, local authorities will begin the mandatory collection of information on the length of time that is spent in temporary accommodation. That will help to inform the Scottish Government, in consultation with our stakeholders, about any further steps that it may need to take.
As I said, the length of a temporary accommodation stay for anyone should be as short as possible.
Community Councils (Strengthening)
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to strengthening community councils. (S4O-05704)
Although local authorities have statutory oversight of community councils, the Government has been working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Improvement Service and Edinburgh Napier University to further enhance their role.
Does the minister share my concern that, although we want to push power down to local communities below the city council level, it is difficult when many community councils are not active, or are kept going only by a very small band of people?
I share that concern. Community councils that do not feel listened to will not attract people and will struggle to recruit. Our work includes a website to support community councils; digital engagement workshops to support them in recruiting new people; and a fairer Scotland community council event that we are hosting, to which all community councils are invited.
Last year, I met the national body for English parish and town councils to learn more about their system. I would describe myself as actively interested, but any further work would be for the next Administration, of which I will clearly not be a part, to take forward.
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