Chamber and committees

Thank you for being as brief as you can be about an issue that I know you are passionate about.

I turn to Ellie Gomersall. Can you answer the question in two parts? First, will you look at the criminal offence in terms of the 16 to 18-year-olds whom you represent? Do you have any concerns there? Secondly, will you talk about the wider implications for over-18s? I know that your organisation also represents them.

My question broadly follows on from Alexander Stewart’s line of questioning. You talked about responses to the consultation on the joint guidance that was published. What sort of response have you had since the guidance was published? Have the trends been the same, with the two trains of thought that you have spoken about, or have you had further responses that have given you cause for consideration?

Do you feel that that has increased as there has been a debate around the issue, or have you always been asked for advice on it?

Thanks, Malcolm. I nudge Hugh to answer that as well.

This is more of a remark that does not have anything to do with the legislation, as you have been quite clear that the legislation does not really impact on sport. However, it sounds as though trans people have an unpredictable future in sport, because all that it would take would be a change in organisational structure, the people at the top of the organisation, or in the standing orders for there to be a significant change in their participation. That is more of a remark than anything else, convener.

Thank you for that. With regard to the work that you have described, I think that I speak for all members in saying that I would be interested to hear more about that as it comes in to other local areas.

It is helpful to get that on the record, because it allows us to clearly say that we have evidence of an overall increase. Katy Clark and Collette Stevenson will agree that that is what the agencies that are represented on the cross-party group that I chair are reporting. They feel that we are on the precipice of another pandemic in the coming period.

My substantive question is about young people’s use of the internet and what we can do to increase safety in educational terms. I know that we have talked a wee bit about that already, but I would like to bring in some of the witnesses at the top half of the table, because the discussion has probably been more focused on those sitting at the bottom half. My question, which is for Alison Penman, is: what more can we do to make young people safe? I have three young children, but it is my 8-year-old who probably falls into the category that we are discussing. She has asked me several times for a TikTok account. There is absolutely no chance that she is getting it—I do not have an account myself; in fact, I do not understand it—but, to be realistic, I will not be able to say no for ever, whether it be for TikTok or whatever replaces it. What can we do to educate our children about this? To be frank—and I am probably not the only parent who will say this—I think that my 8-year-old is more tech savvy than I am. That worries and concerns me as a parent; it worries and concerns my peers and friends whom I speak to; and it is a concern for my constituents. Do you have any advice in that respect?

Thank you for that. The whole subject of children who display harmful behaviours is such an interesting one. It is an area in which society as a whole recognises that there is a victim and a perpetrator wrapped up in a serious situation. This comment would usually be for the committee’s discussion in private, but I want to put out there to the other committee members that I think that we would find that area of great interest if we were to take evidence on it.

My substantive question is about helping families to cope with the new age that we are living in. We are in it, and the internet is going to be here forever. Gina, are you able to talk about what you are doing on that?

I agree with you and others that the visit was very useful. I put on record my thanks to the people who gave us evidence, sometimes sharing their personal stories, which was very helpful.

We heard that a national throughcare service is in place—Wise Group is already providing it—and we were asked to take that into account as we proceed with the bill. That was an interesting point that I wanted to highlight.

I am sorry to keep pressing you on this, because I know that it is a very difficult and sensitive area, and I appreciate the responses that you are giving. We are getting a clear indication from you that anxiety and depression have increased. We would not expect you to do so when they are suffering but, when the time is right, are you going back and asking those officers who are off with anxiety and depression to indicate any work-related pressures that they felt led to that? Do you try to pull that information together?