Chamber and committees

In the summer, I met a wide range of third sector organisations across West Scotland, including the Lochwinnoch community larder and starter packs Inverclyde. New research from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations has revealed the precarious situation that third sector organisations are facing, with figures showing that 64 per cent of those organisations have reported an increase in demand and 61 per cent have described facing imminent financial challenges. Many are worried about how they will keep their lights on and doors open.

Will the cabinet secretary commit to establishing a new third sector resilience fund, such as that which was put in place at the start of the pandemic, to ensure that third sector organisations can continue to support the most vulnerable, rather than focus on their own survival?

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide additional financial resources for third sector organisations that are on the front line in providing advice and support services as the cost of living crisis continues to deepen. (S6O-01429)

New research by YouGov has revealed that only 28 per cent of Scots have considered a career in the care sector, with about 40 per cent citing low pay, stress and a perception that the sector is physically demanding. More shockingly, nine out of 10 care workers describe their place of work as understaffed.

I heard what the cabinet secretary said in his statement about winter planning yesterday. However, the headline that we heard on social care was a repeat of the announcement of the £10.50 per hour wage, which equates to a derisory pay rise of 48p. When will the Government get serious, engage with staff and unions on the ground, and respond to the call for £15 an hour?

It is clear that we need to drill down. My point about speaking to those communities is absolutely vital.

I will move the discussion on slightly, because I am conscious of the time.

Is there a challenge for many people in respect of professional players setting an example and the players whom they play alongside not understanding some of the systemic issues, the deep-rooted nature of racism and the challenges around that, and very often not being aware of the challenges that other people face? To what extent has there been training for other professional players on racism and how they conduct themselves on social media and in various other spaces? Does that training currently exist?

I will pull this opening segment together. I am keen to understand the learning from this process as we move towards another process. What do you know now that you wish you had known at the start of that integration process and can be used as we scrutinise the forthcoming bill?

Good morning. I want to pick up from where we left the previous question—at the grass-roots issue and the fact that young players from a south-east Asian background in particular do not progress to the national level.

There is a real feeling from the survey respondents about the challenges that exist. Fifty-four per cent of people from non-white backgrounds who responded to the survey said that they did not agree that there is a level playing field or a fair opportunity of access to the national level.

I appreciate what you said about the on-going review. However, I represent a community in which there are many young people from a south-east Asian background who play cricket, are passionate and enthusiastic about it, and are well supported by their families, and they do not seem to think that there is a prospect that they will be able to progress. What is your assessment of why that is?

Good morning. The committee is keen to understand the process of integration, looking ahead to our scrutiny of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill and looking retrospectively at how the arrangements are currently operating.

Do you feel that, at the time of integration, planning and guidance for the implementation of integration was suitably clear, detailed and timely? What was the experience of the planning for that integration process?

We have heard about local working at officer level, but I am keen to get a perspective from the boards themselves. How important is that democratic representation, with elected members able to scrutinise the work of health and social care partnerships and chief officers? Those people know their communities and have been elected to represent their communities. I say that as someone who served on an IJB in a previous life. I wonder whether Judith Proctor might want to share her view on that.

You referred to people’s perception. I am not sure that it is a perception. I think that there is a real demonstrable challenge for people in being able to access the sport.

I represent and come from East Renfrewshire, which is a community with a large south-east Asian community and in which people are well supported. There are a number of clubs and school opportunities, for example. I would like to hear a commitment from you that you will go to those communities, speak to people—particularly young people who have had challenging experiences—and get a sense from them not of what the situation is perceived to be but of what the reality of the situation is. Will you give that undertaking? I appreciate what you have said about commissioning work to be done, but I think that you in your role and whoever continues the leadership of the organisation should go to those communities.

As someone who represents the West Scotland region—and going back to my previous remarks about my own community—I am keen to understand what the particular issue is in west district. We have heard about the resignation of the board and its replacement, but it seems to me that there is a particular challenge in that part of the country. Gordon, do you want to elaborate on that?