Chamber and committees

It is important that the Scottish Government ensures the fair and equitable treatment of all Ukrainian refugees, black and white, old and young. What discussions has the Scottish Government had with relevant partners about safeguarding issues relating to the homes for Ukraine scheme, to ensure that all people, particularly children and young people, are placed in safe and supportive environments?

When talking about emergency visa waivers at Westminster yesterday, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom told the Home Affairs Committee:

“At particular times, drastic measures should be taken. I believe something like a drop-in could be considered as well.“

In the light of that direct plea from the ambassador of our war-ravaged European neighbours, does the First Minister agree that the UK Government should adopt the position of the Irish Government, which has removed all visa barriers, to allow refugees to be welcomed quickly, safely and securely without delay? Does she agree that post-arrival paperwork and biometric work should be conducted in concert with the Ukrainian consul so that arrivals can securely settle anywhere across the UK’s common travel area?

Does the cabinet secretary agree that, if members of the Opposition are so keen to discuss the on-going preparatory work for an independence referendum, they should join us in calling on the United Kingdom Government to honour the democratic mandate granted by the Scottish people, so that an open and fully-informed dialogue on the opportunities of independence can begin as soon as possible?

I should say that I was not here during the previous parliamentary session, so you will forgive me if my questions seem obvious.

We are in the scrutiny period for the bill. What assurances can you give me that, whatever form the legislation might take once and if it is passed and if the powers were then to be used, the Parliament would still be able to scrutinise it? Will regulations be revised every 21 days? I would be concerned on behalf of the public and, indeed, anyone else about the Parliament being able to talk about this and, I suppose, follow the journey if an emergency situation were to arise.

That is good. I am reassured that we will take account of the different scenarios and will be able to respond accordingly, having learned lessons from previous events.

It is reassuring to hear that. Some of the stories that I heard from students were about support. Many students were away from home for the first time and were in lockdown with strangers, so they did not have those connections and support mechanisms. Also, food was an issue. There was patchiness in the availability and quality of food, and there were also issues with the dietary requirements of students with certain religious affiliations.

Last week, we heard evidence about boarding schools, which will also come under the measures. I am sure that there will have been some consideration of that, but can you shine some light on the consideration that was given to putting those two different types of accommodation together? Obviously, they are slightly different scenarios.

Moving on to an area of interest for me, I have been speaking to students from the eight institutions and the many student accommodation premises in my Glasgow Kelvin constituency. I have to say that the experience of students was very variable over the period in question; in fact, it was quite difficult to hear some of their experiences of lockdown. I note that the bill talks about

“reasonable steps to restrict or prohibit access to the establishment for a specified period”.

What is the intention behind the power to put a duty on the manager of such an establishment to restrict access to accommodation?

I have a couple of questions on the issues that have come up so far. I will then move on to my main questions, which are about student accommodation.

The committee has heard from students whose experience during the past couple of years has been variable across the country and across local authority areas. How far would the powers help to ensure that there was consistency if there was another pandemic and they had to be invoked?

Although reform is necessary, this is an uncertain time for the staff who are directly involved. We must take their anxieties seriously. What assurance can the cabinet secretary give to staff at Education Scotland and the SQA that the Scottish Government will ensure job security, champion the principles of fair work and undertake meaningful engagement with staff throughout the reform process?

It is an absolute pleasure to speak in the debate and to stand with my colleagues as we celebrate the journeys and achievements of women all over the world on this day.

This time last year, there were no women of colour in the chamber. Today, we have two. I thank my colleagues for bringing that to everyone’s attention—as if nobody had noticed—but, without diminishing our success, I say again that, in 2022, we have two. Members should let that sink in.

Although there has been progress and the Scottish Parliament has more women MSPs in this session than in any previous session, we share a collective responsibility to continue the trajectory towards equal representation for women and to “break the bias”. Despite the progress in recent decades, we have also witnessed sobering reminders that the fight for equality is far from over. The fact remains that, whether we are competing in the labour market, caring for loved ones or simply walking home, women face obstacles, discrimination and dangers that men do not.

We know that the pandemic has highlighted existing inequalities between men and women. Furthermore, research from Close the Gap last year showed that black and minority ethnic women face a combination of gendered and racial barriers that affect their ability to enter, progress in and stay in good-quality employment. According to Close the Gap’s research, more than 50 per cent of workers in roles that the Scottish Government assessed as being at high risk of job disruption are women, and BAME women, particularly young BAME women, are more likely to experience loss of hours and loss of earnings, with almost three quarters reporting they had experienced racism, discrimination, racial prejudice and/or bias in the workplace.

It is important to understand and recognise the intersectionality of race and gender inequalities. Women face institutional and other prejudices, and it is clear that the experience of women of colour is even tougher and has additional layers. We talk about glass ceilings, but we should also talk about the glass walls and the glass floors.

One notable example can be found in education. In 2019, the National Union of Students reported that more than 80 per cent of white UK university students domiciled in the UK received a first or upper second-class degree compared to 70 per cent of black, Asian and minority ethnic students. When they were asked about possible contributory factors, students frequently cited the lack of role models and diversity among senior staff at their institutions.

In the same year, writer and activist Nicola Rollock interviewed 20 of the UK’s total of 25 black female professors. Twenty five is a pitifully low number, which represents just 0.1 per cent of all professors in the UK. White men comprise 68 per cent of UK professors. In her interviews, she heard repeated descriptions of a culture of bullying, racial stereotyping and micro-aggressions in higher education.

Sadly, we are even seeing a disparity in the treatment of Ukrainian women of colour as they run for refuge.

Today, we renew our call on employers across all sectors, including our schools, colleges and universities, to be bolder and not to prop up ineffectual equality policies with box-ticking exercises. We call on employers to implement real change with measurable outcomes.

We must also hold people accountable within our own communities and among friends, and we ourselves should not be afraid of introspection—we must appreciate that we are not always free from bias.

On a national level, the Scottish Government has proven its commitment to eradicating racial and gender inequality through an extensive range of actions and proposals, including a new bill to incorporate into Scots law four United Nations human rights treaties, notably the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. That will help to advance economic, social and cultural rights. Fair work and gender pay gap action plans will also assist Scotland in achieving its ambition to be a fair work nation.

We welcome every centimetre and metre of progress—a modern reference, instead of a reference to inches and miles, which did not work—but we know that there is much more to do and that the road is long and winding. It is also exhausting. However, as we celebrate this international women’s day, let us acknowledge the essential contributions of women and the importance of diversity, and let us recommit ourselves, in solidarity, to breaking the bias.

I will end with the words of one of my favourite poets, Maya Angelou. It is dedicated to all women: the women from our past, those in the present and those to come.

“Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud …

’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.”

That is all of us today.