Chamber and committees

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to encourage the uptake of education maintenance allowance among eligible pupils. (S6O-02942)

That is certainly not the evidence that we, in the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, hear directly from them.

That collaborative effort between national and local government, operating within a shared framework and aligned policies, only enhances our capacity to deliver sustainable and person-centred public services. Although that will continue to be challenging, keeping the needs of our citizens at the core of that shared partnership and of what we are thinking will be the key to success.

The third sector—or, more accurately, the community and voluntary sector—plays a pivotal role in delivering public services, yet its contribution is sometimes overlooked. When I met the chief executive of Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire recently, its emphasis on the big wins for small investments in the sector resonated deeply with me. The contributions of the community and voluntary sector include its crucial role in priming our economy for growth by providing essential skills and workplace training and by delivering high-quality services in health, social care, education and more. That sentiment is reinforced by the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s report “The economic contribution of the third sector in Scotland”, which hails the sector as

“a significant player in the Scottish economy”.

Social enterprises have also played their part. In 2021, they provided nearly 90,000 full-time equivalent jobs and £2.6 billion in gross value added to the Scottish economy. However, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and others have suggested that clarity on whether social enterprises are classed as third sector would be helpful as we consider service reform. It would be good to have a comment on that.

I want to talk about a local example, the MorphFit Gentle Movement Project. It is based in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, and delivers inclusive exercise plans and lifestyle interventions for people who would otherwise struggle to access exercise at all. MorphFit focuses on supporting the ageing population, those who are experiencing isolation and those who are caring for others. It receives referrals from local GPs and health and social care partnerships, among others. It supports up to 60 individuals every week and has built a real community, which has expanded into arts and other projects. Residents tell me regularly that it has been absolutely life changing for them. It is the person-centred delivery that makes a difference in people’s lives.

It is imperative that we provide sustained support for third sector organisations and uphold the recognition of them as not just service providers but integral sources of positive social and wealth generation.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that I support Scottish independence. Today, we have heard a lot of negatives and a lot of urging for us to spend more money, but where is that money going to come from? Some people might be surprised that I did not vote SNP until 2015, after decades of voting for the Labour Party. However, my principles and values have always been rooted in social justice, including our duty to look after each other, respect others as equals and value our local communities. That chimes with the three key Scottish Government delivery priorities—equality, opportunity and community.

Although Scottish independence has often been portrayed as being about flag waving, nationality and disliking England, that is not my experience at all. For me and many people like me, independence is all about creating a Scotland that looks after everyone who lives here, from cradle to grave. It is only with the powers of independence that we can fully unleash the talents and resources that will allow industry to thrive and that we can truly invest in those precious public services that uphold Scottish citizens’ rights and prioritise happiness and wellbeing. That is the kind of Scotland that I want to live in.

I will close with a recent quote from Scotland’s First Minister, which I could not agree with more:

“independence is urgent ... precisely ... because the cost of living is at the very top of people’s concerns”.

The member mentioned the NHS and housing and talked about a time when the UK was on its knees. Does he agree that Keir Starmer should be looking back at that time and looking to invest in this country, should he become the next UK Prime Minister?

Is there a timeline in mind for the roll-out of the programme? When is that likely to happen?

That is helpful. That collaborative approach and flexibility are incredibly important going forward.

Will the Scottish Government fully fund SEEP? If not, how much will institutions and other partners be expected to contribute to it? Do you have any ideas about that at the moment?

Okay. Thanks.

I see that you are searching.

I want to ask about the Scottish education exchange programme. Certainly, our losing Erasmus+ was a massive blow, so SEEP is much needed.

The committee took evidence on the Welsh Taith learning exchange programme and we were impressed by that. Is that programme influencing SEEP? Are they broadly similar, or are there any big differences? Are you able to offer any further detail on SEEP just now?

I declare that, until 2022, I was a local councillor at South Lanarkshire Council.

The Verity house agreement was strong on multiyear certainty, but we do not see that in this budget and financial circular. What impact does that lack of multiyear funding have on local authorities and their partners? How does it impact on the workforce and service delivery?