Chamber and committees

I can give that assurance—I have already done that regarding the visa situation. There are clear tests in place with regard to the pause that we currently have in place. It is not a decision that we take lightly. There are clear tests that have to be met, I can share further details of that with Mr Simpson, should he wish to have them.

The Prime Minister talks of “incalculable” damage being caused by so-called open borders. I disagree with that. I would like to address some points that were raised by Jeremy Balfour and Graham Simpson regarding legal migration versus illegal migration.

We have a moral obligation to offer a place of safety to desperate people who are fleeing conflict and persecution. The lack of safe and legal routes to the UK does not prevent, and has not prevented, people from coming, and it forces already vulnerable people to make extremely dangerous and life-threatening journeys across the Channel. Any damage has come from short-sighted, restrictive immigration policies and dehumanising language inflicted by, unfortunately, successive UK Government Administrations.

Last month, the First Minister chaired a round-table meeting with stakeholders from across Scotland’s businesses and institutions and heard directly from them about the issues that the immigration white paper risks causing to our communities and economy. In the coming weeks, the Scottish Government will publish a position paper outlining the concerns that were raised at the meeting. We will also publish the proposal document that was sent by the Scottish Government to the Home Office during the development of the white paper.

I come to my final two sentences, and I thank Maggie Chapman and Alex Cole-Hamilton for inspiring me, because they talked about heat and hate. I think that we definitely need more light and more compassion. The moral case is clear; this afternoon, we have also made the economic case.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Apologies, but my app did not work in time. I would have voted no.

I absolutely agree with Stuart McMillan. The working-age population in his constituency is growing, but only because of migration. The one-size-fits-all policy approach, as outlined in the UK Government’s white paper on immigration, poses a significant risk to Scotland’s economy, our communities and our public services—not least to those in Inverclyde. That is why we are taking action where we can, including by providing £60,000 over two years to support delivery of a local authority-led strategy to address depopulation.

Ending international recruitment would have a profoundly negative and potentially catastrophic impact on the social care sector in many Scottish communities, including Inverclyde. The immigration system must reflect Scotland’s distinct economic and demographic needs and must not pander to the likes of Nigel Farage.

A key strand of the Scottish Government’s migration strategy involves engagement with the United Kingdom Government to make the case for immigration system changes that will reflect Scotland’s demographic and economic needs. The Scottish Government issued comprehensive, evidence-based proposals to the Home Office during the development of the white paper on immigration, but there was no substantive engagement from the Home Office following that. The white paper includes none of the Scottish Government’s proposals and fails to account for Scotland’s requirements. The ministerial population task force will discuss the policy implications of the white paper at its next meeting in June 2025.

Will you repeat the question?

That is a huge concern, and we recognise that financial control and the creation of debt in abusive relationships can adversely impact victims/survivors. Of course, that can include public debt such as rent and council tax arrears. Through the current Housing (Scotland) Bill, we are taking steps to improve how social landlords respond in such circumstances, by requiring them to develop and implement domestic abuse policies and to provide specialist support before legal action is taken over arrears that are connected with such abuse. We are also committed to bringing part 2 of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 into force in December 2025. That will enable courts to transfer secure tenancies away from perpetrators and give victims the option to remain in their home safely.

More broadly, the Scottish Government recognises the impact that public debt can have on people in vulnerable situations and we encourage all public bodies to adopt best practice in debt collection and advice. We are investing £2.2 million to expand Citizens Advice Scotland’s council tax debt project, which provides tailored support to affected households and promotes best practice in debt collection across local authorities. I am fully aware that it is a complex and multifaceted area. I am quite happy to bring in James Messis, who will be able to provide the member with further information.

James, are you happy to answer that?

I can only reiterate that we are always on standby to work with the UK Government. Although there are certain benefits that we have created, we know that some, such as universal credit, are down to the DWP. The committee’s emphasis of that joint partnership is welcome, but it requires both parties to be able to do that.

Yes—thank you for that.

I beg your pardon—I have so much information in front of me that it is like sitting an exam.

It is, of course, essential to have a trauma-informed approach. We know that financial abuse in the context of domestic abuse can mean that abusive partners claim social security benefits, which further traps victims and survivors.

Our charter commits Social Security Scotland to adopting trauma-informed practice as standard, and the agency is actively working to embed that practice across the organisation. All Social Security Scotland’s health and social care staff undergo training on trauma-informed practice, in conjunction with NHS Education for Scotland. Social Security Scotland’s induction programme includes trauma awareness, and those in the workforce, including local delivery advisers, complete annual training that covers the principles of safeguarding, recognising abuse and public protection.

As part of its commitment to being a learning service, Social Security Scotland welcomes feedback from clients, which is really important in ensuring that the client experience is as good as it can be. It takes feedback from clients, colleagues and stakeholders, which helps to inform any changes that we need to make. Social Security Scotland continually revises its guidance to ensure that women are supported in the best possible way. I hope that that is helpful.