To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to promote the benefits of volunteering, in light of the recent research from Volunteer Scotland indicating that regular participation in volunteering can have wellbeing benefits worth approximately £1,000 per person per year. (S6O-04537)

Given the concerning fall in volunteering participation, we must ensure that volunteers are treated well and that standards are upheld. Will the cabinet secretary advise how the Scottish Government is ensuring that funding for third sector organisations supports volunteers’ involvement that is aligned with the principles of the volunteer charter? Will she join me and representatives from volunteer organisations at the next meeting of the Parliament’s cross-party group on volunteering to discuss the issues that the sector faces?

I agree with you, convener. We should write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs and we should keep the petition open until then.

You have answered part of my next question, but can you give us an indication of when residents of those villages can expect to see the bypass completed?

Good morning, cabinet secretary. What reassurance can you offer the petitioner that the upgrade of the A75 as outlined in STPR2 will be delivered in a timely manner and will be sufficient to meet the needs of road users and local communities?

Cabinet secretary, what other assurance can you give to ensure that such a project will not cause any further delays or significant inconvenience to A75 road users?

The medical director of Lothian Local Medical Committee recently stated that many practices can no longer afford to take on additional GPs and that some are at risk of going bust. Given that, in November, the cabinet secretary announced an additional £13.6 million for general practice staffing, can he advise me what impact that will have on GPs’ retention and, specifically, how many new GPs the Scottish Government expects that it will hire?

The Scottish Government supports the adoption of heat networks to improve energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty, but such systems are not covered by the Ofgem price cap, and my constituents report that developers are increasing prices by 150 per cent. On the issue of fuel poverty, can the minister advise us how the Scottish Government is protecting residents who use heat networks from being overcharged by developers or factors? Will the Scottish Government raise the issue with Ofgem or the UK Government?

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am struggling with my app. I would have voted yes.

I congratulate Maggie Chapman on bringing this important issue to the chamber. The system that we have to prevent destitution and homelessness is by no means perfect, but it is far better than that for those who have no recourse to public funds, who are being forced into destitution by a system that completely overlooks them.

People with NRPF include students, asylum seekers and EU citizens without leave to remain. Many have contributed to our economy through taxes or tuition fees, yet they cannot access many benefits or services, including homelessness support. They also pay a surcharge—something like 150 per cent of the cost of care—to use our national health service. I have met students who pay large tuition fees that support our universities but were forced to take out loans to pay for healthcare.

The “Destitution by design” briefing outlines the ways in which NRPF has contributed to destitution and its on-going effects. Those with NRPF and experiencing destitution are

“6 times more likely to be sleeping rough”

than other destitute groups. A third who accessed support from the fair way Scotland partnership had no weekly income at all. People with NRPF are 8.5 times more likely to use accident and emergency, costing the taxpayer money. The briefing even outlines the horrific situation of survivors of domestic abuse being unable to get homelessness support.

I met Shakti Women’s Aid Edinburgh, which provides support, including safe accommodation and befriending services, for those with NRPF who are fleeing abusive situations. Those services are so important but will not be available across Scotland, and they are subject to Shakti Women’s Aid continuing to receive grant funding. Members must recognise that any system that delivers outcomes such as that is not working for anyone.

Although the power to make great changes to NRPF is reserved, Scotland can and should be taking action. “Ending Destitution in Scotland—A Road Map for Policymakers” outlines ways in which that can happen. The first is the bus scheme—my colleague Paul Sweeney has done great work in pushing for that scheme for asylum seekers. However, we know that half of those seeking support for destitution are not asylum seekers, and that being unable to travel means missing job interviews, immigration interviews or medical appointments.

Secondly, the report recommends the expansion of the fair way Scotland partnership or the establishment of a crisis fund. Given that the Scottish Government already grants funding to organisations that provide crisis funds for those with NRPF, we should simply look at the system and create a single point of access across the country.

Ultimately, making major changes to the rules is a matter for the UK Government, but we must elevate the harm that is caused by fully funding local authorities and organisations that support some of the most vulnerable people in our society.