Chamber and committees

Good morning. I want to start by putting on record the committee’s thanks to councillors across Scotland for the additional work that they have done and the support that they have provided to their communities during the pandemic. It is important to recognise that.

As we look towards next year’s council elections, what additional things could the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliament do to help to encourage higher voter turnout and to encourage more people to take up the challenge of becoming a local councillor?

That was a very helpful answer.

I want to pursue the issue of remuneration for councillors. Some people might not want to discuss that issue, but since local government was reformed to create larger wards with three or four members, it has become a focus. I know from the information about age range that was gathered for the research that was published in 2018 that standing as a councillor has become something that people do in later life.

Do you have any views on support for councillors and the remuneration that they receive for the work that they do?

Thanks very much for those answers.

We know that, during the pandemic, more than 300,000 of our fellow Scots have become carers and have taken up a caring role. I want to touch on what Colin Toal said. Although I asked about young carers, there is a question about where people can access information about support. Do any of you have views on support that is available outwith the social security system, such as carers breaks and respite care? I know that those services have also been hit during the pandemic. What difference would that support make? I know that local carer centres in my region are doing different things to support people. What does the national mix of additional support that is available that you have seen during the pandemic look like?

Thank you—I appreciate that. A number of points were raised with the first panel about ensuring that respite care is fully returned, and about carers breaks, which I think attracted cross-party support when the initial Carers (Scotland) Bill went through Parliament. In fact, my colleague Nanette Milne lodged the amendment on carers breaks. Could you update the committee on the restoration of respite care, and on funding specifically available for carers breaks? That was something that I really took on board, and the first panel very much emphasised how desperately needed breaks are for carers across Scotland.

That is helpful. It would be useful for you to provide the committee with information on what independent evaluation—as opposed to internal evaluation—has taken place. If the cost is associated with evaluation by independent organisations, it would be useful for us to have that information.

What reporting duty is there—I did not see any attached to the bill—in relation to progress towards taking over and delivering other devolved benefits? Is that something that you would engage with committee members on?

I mean on that benefit and the wider devolution of social security reforms and benefits.

I appreciate that, convener.

I want to ask specifically about young carers, a matter that I raised with the first panel of witnesses this morning. We know that young carers cannot get the young carer grant if they are in receipt of carers allowance at the time when they apply for the young carer grant. What reforms are ministers looking to pursue around that? Should those individuals who receive the young carer grant be able to qualify for CAS?

I want to carry on with the theme that all the witnesses have touched on: carers who are not entitled to payments. Specifically, I want to look at the issue of young carers during the pandemic. What have your organisations picked up on the subject? We know from some of the submissions that we have received that young carers cannot get the young carer grant if they are in receipt of carers allowance. What have you heard from young carers about their experiences? How do we consider potentially targeting support for young carers?

I welcome the minister to his position. I have a couple of questions about eligibility and the work that the Government has done to evaluate its policies. The committee has received evidence that there is no official estimate of the number of people who are eligible for carers allowance but do not go on to apply for it. What independent evaluation of past payments has been carried out?

Good morning to the whole Accounts Commission panel. Ms Calder has just touched on the question that I wanted to ask, which is specifically on any analysis that you have done of local government workforce issues. You have already outlined the challenge that planning departments across the country are experiencing. My key question is this: what assessment did you make pre-pandemic, and what assessment have you made post-pandemic, of the workforce challenges that are facing local government?