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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 7 July 2025
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Displaying 1390 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Scottish Commission on Social Security

Meeting date: 26 June 2025

Elena Whitham

One of the issues that struck me was that there is not enough awareness of VoiceAbility, which is an organisation that is directly engaged on supporting claimants who use Social Security Scotland. What work has been undertaken to address the gap in awareness of that service?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Scottish Commission on Social Security

Meeting date: 26 June 2025

Elena Whitham

Good morning. I am interested in SCoSS’s first report on the implementation of the social security charter. The report speaks to the many positive interactions that individuals have with Social Security Scotland, but it focuses on the issues of individuals who have communication needs and how those needs are being looked after. Will you comment on some of the significant issues that the report raises and on your interactions with Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Government to address the report’s seven recommendations?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Scottish Commission on Social Security

Meeting date: 26 June 2025

Elena Whitham

Okay—thanks for that.

Finally, what lessons have you learned from your first foray into interrogating the charter? What aspects of the charter will you report on next time?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Interests

Meeting date: 26 June 2025

Elena Whitham

Thanks, convener. It is good to be back on the committee. I declare a non-financial interest in the fact that I worked for North Ayrshire Women’s Aid for over a decade.

Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Young People’s Neurodivergence, Mental Health and Wellbeing

Meeting date: 26 June 2025

Elena Whitham

Will the minister clarify how regional inequalities are being addressed in rural and post-industrial communities, including former coalfields, to ensure equitable and timely access to support for neurodivergent young people? My inbox is full of correspondence from families who are experiencing huge difficulties in accessing the support that they urgently require and are entitled to, as is set out in the national specification.

Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Historical Policies Affecting Gypsy Traveller Communities

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Elena Whitham

Today is a historic moment on the path to reconciliation. I welcome the First Minister’s apology and much-needed recognition of the deep harms that were caused by state policies such as the tinker experiment and the associated practice of trafficking Scottish Traveller children overseas. Does the First Minister agree that, beyond acknowledgement, true reconciliation and the healing of intergenerational cultural trauma require on-going community-led investment in support and cultural preservation for Scotland’s Gypsy and Traveller communities, which must remain a priority for the Government?

I take this opportunity to thank community members, activists and academics such as Roseanna and Shamus McPhee, Dr Lynne Tammi-Connelly and Davie Donaldson, as well as all the third sector partners who never stopped pushing for justice. Christina McKelvie, Kevin Stewart and I were deeply privileged to work together with members of the community on the first action plan, and today’s apology can now be placed at the heart of this work.

Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Elena Whitham

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the latest births and deaths figures published by National Records of Scotland. (S6O-04835)

Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Elena Whitham

With birth rates in Scotland being a reported 3.9 per cent lower than average in the first three months of this year, does the cabinet secretary agree that Scotland continues to grapple with the challenges of a declining birth rate and an ageing population, giving rise to significant workforce troubles and pressures on public services, and specifically increasing demand for health and social care services? Does the cabinet secretary agree that UK immigration policies do not take into account Scotland’s unique circumstances and that it is imperative that we have the powers to introduce a Scottish visa system, akin to the systems that work in Canada, which would help Scotland to grow its population?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]

Children’s and Young People’s Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

Meeting date: 24 June 2025

Elena Whitham

Ailsa Wyllie, you spoke about the active schools co-ordinators and how they would work with young people in the school setting to help them to find a path into community-based activities and sport. Do you think that those active schools co-ordinators have enough resource and time to really look across and respond to the intersectional issues that might be putting barriers in front of young people?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]

Children’s and Young People’s Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

Meeting date: 24 June 2025

Elena Whitham

What you are describing sounds like early intervention and prevention work in action.