Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Official Report 795KB pdf

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Support for Families of Missing People

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S5M-11582, in the name of Fulton MacGregor, on support for families of missing people. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.

Motion debated,

That the Parliament recognises the suffering of thousands of families across Scotland who have experienced, or will experience, a loved one going missing; understands that, every year, over 30,000 children and adults will be reported missing, of which, thankfully, many will return quickly but that, tragically, others will remain missing for weeks, months or even years; believes that, despite the excellent work of Police Scotland in searching for missing people, the families who are left devastated receive little or no emotional, practical and legal support in coping with the disappearance of their missing loved one; acknowledges the campaign of the family of Sean McKenna, who went missing in Coatbridge in 2017, for more support for families of missing loved ones; further acknowledges the National Missing Person’s Framework, which was published by the Scottish Government in 2017; notes the view that this should be implemented in every local authority area, and further notes the calls for more to be done to support the families who are living a nightmare to ensure that every person who is missing a loved one is offered support and help.

17:04  

I thank colleagues from across the chamber for supporting the motion and allowing this important subject to be discussed in Parliament. I remind members that I am the parliamentary liaison officer for the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

We are joined in the gallery for the debate by representatives of Missing People’s United Kingdom organisation, and Missing People’s Scotland organisation—who have brought with them many families who have been affected—and the Moira Anderson Foundation. I welcome them all and thank them for their continued hard work.

There is not much that could be more devastating than realising that a loved one is missing, and none of us can know how we would deal with such news. It is hard to imagine how we would feel and the impact that it would have on our life. Unfortunately, however, it is a reality for many families across Scotland every week.

I know that members will be familiar with the social media timelines that show appeals for missing people. Just in the past two weeks, I have shared police appeals for men who have gone missing in my constituency—one from Coatbridge and another from Chryston. Thankfully, both were found safe.

It is important that when that horrible thought becomes a reality, as it does for thousands of families every year, we have in place full support for the families. Thankfully, the vast majority of people who are missing are found safe and well—like those I mentioned—but that is not always the case.

I want to reflect on a tragic case from my constituency—that of Sean McKenna—that has inspired me to take up the issue of missing people. When Sean went missing in 2016, the reaction of the Coatbridge and wider community was incredible: hundreds of volunteers rallied to support the police in their search. Sadly, by the time Sean was found, it was too late. His family will forever mourn a much-loved son and brother.

Sean’s dad raised the issue with me at the time, and spoke about the hidden costs of a family member or loved one being missing, including the emotional and psychological trauma, the impact on relationships, the ability to work and the financial effect. I pay tribute to the whole McKenna family, who have continued to raise awareness of the subject of support for families of missing people. Sean’s parents have been a force in raising the issue with the press and in organising charity events, from which the money that was raised has gone to support families of missing people. The McKenna family have been unable to make it to the debate today, but I know that they are taking a keen interest in it at home.

Another tragic case that members will be aware of from my constituency is that of Moira Anderson, who went missing from Coatbridge in 1957 at the age of 11 and is, to this day, considered to be a missing person. As recently as last year, the police conducted a search of the Monkland canal in an effort to find her body, but to no avail. I pay tribute to the continued work of Sandra Brown and the Moira Anderson Foundation. The charity supports victims of childhood sexual abuse, while ensuring that the search for Moira never stops. I know that the charity continues to support Moira’s remaining family and has provided that support over a number of years.

I am delighted to see that Professor Hester Parr, from the University of Glasgow, is working with Missing People UK to conduct new research into why people go missing, which involves speaking to those who return. About 99 per cent of people who are reported missing return within one month; the new research will be vital in identifying the causes of people going missing, and will in the future help, where possible, to prevent people from going missing.

I welcome the investment from the Scottish Government in training more than 400 police officers, social workers and volunteers to help the police to conduct what are called return interviews. The findings from those interviews are to be fed back to partner agencies to ensure that they provide the necessary support to vulnerable people. I ask that the return interviews include the family, where possible.

This week is the first ever national awareness week on missing people and I very much welcome its introduction. I hope that colleagues were able to find the time to drop in and hear from Missing People at today’s drop-in session.

Some of the statistics on the subject are frightening. For example, in the past year, 23,000 missing person incidents were reported to Police Scotland, involving 12,500 individuals. Of those, almost two thirds were children or young people. More than half the children who go missing in Scotland are in the care system. We must do better: I know that the Scottish Government’s care review will consider the issue in the wider context of children being looked after and accommodated, and of our overall duty, as a society, to young people.

There has been a lot of discussion recently in the chamber about mental health. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 across the UK. It is an issue that we must all work together around the world to tackle. It is important that we recognise the link between mental health and people going missing. It is suggested that in the region of 80 per cent of people who are reported missing have some form of mental or emotional health problem. That is where the important research of Professor Parr and her team should provide improvements. If we can identify the causes, we can step in earlier to prevent people disappearing.

As I said earlier, one of the main issues that came to light for me when I was speaking to the family of Sean McKenna was the lack of support for the families of missing people. As I mentioned at the start of my speech, none of us can imagine how we would handle a loved one going missing. It is important that, as a society, we get this right. We need to take on board what is being said by the families who have experienced missing loved ones and ensure that we improve our systems. Emotional and psychological support is needed, as is practical help for those who struggle to keep their jobs or even to keep their homes—which are among the hidden effects of a person’s going missing.

I welcome the Scottish Government’s “National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland”, which was published just last year. The recommendations in that are strongly supported by Missing People and others, but it is important that we politicians, across the chamber, play our part.

Missing People has asked members of the Scottish Parliament to carry out three simple steps, which I will reiterate. The first is for members to check that a multi-agency group with responsibility for implementing the national framework is in place in their constituencies. The second is to ensure that the multi-agency group has considered the response to the families, as well as the missing person, and that that takes account of unique circumstances. The final step is for members to ensure that their local authority areas have made provision for return discussions, and to check whether such discussions are being offered consistently to adults and children. If the unfortunate situation arises in which the person is not found alive, the multi-agency forum should consider how best to help the family who are left behind. My simple additional plea is that people do not scroll past a missing person report on social media timelines, particularly if it is an official police report, but instead share it, please, and help to find the person.

The framework represents another area in which Scotland is leading the way. The simple steps allow every member of Parliament to play their part in driving down the number of missing people in Scotland, in reducing the heartache that is caused to families and in ensuring that appropriate support is provided when people most need it.

17:11  

I congratulate my colleague Fulton MacGregor on securing debating time to discuss an issue that, tragically, affects many thousands of families in Scotland. I have taken a keen interest in missing people—in particular, in missing children—since the beginning of the first parliamentary session. I led my own debate on young runaways in January 2002, following the disturbing revelation that one in nine Scottish children had run away or was forced to leave home before the age of 16. On realising how prevalent the problem was and how little it seemed to be discussed, I wanted to shed light on it. Significant progress has been made over the past 16 years, but I am glad that we can continue the conversation and focus on support for the families and loved ones of missing people.

As Mr MacGregor said, in 2017-18, 23,000 missing people were reported to Police Scotland, and many cases involved a person who had gone missing previously. Thanks to Police Scotland, agencies and their dedicated staff working in a co-ordinated and co-operative way, 77 per cent of individuals are found within 24 hours and 88 per cent are found within 48 hours, although there is still a chance that they might have experienced significant harm in that time.

Unfortunately, a small number of people—2 per cent—remain missing for weeks, months or years. The families and friends of missing people experience unimaginable trauma when a loved one disappears, regardless of how long they are missing for. Families are forced to face emotional and practical challenges that only worsen with time—especially without access to appropriate support.

My uncle, Leonard Lawson, who was a red-headed man in his 40s who always wore a kilt, disappeared in the 1960s and was never seen again. The family simply stopped mentioning him, which was probably a way of coping. Nowadays, every effort goes into locating missing people, which is right, but similar efforts should go towards supporting the people who are left behind. Along with more than 100 new reports each day, 764 people in Scotland are classed as long-term missing—gone for more than 28 days—and some cases date back to the 1960s.

The reasons why people leave home can be multifactored—from bullying at school or work to a broken romance, financial pressures or trouble at home. Every case is different. A recent North Ayrshire police report revealed that 76 per cent of missing person cases in 2016-17 involved a young person under the age of 18, and the average age of missing persons is 16.

We must recognise the suffering of thousands of families across Scotland who have experienced a loved one going missing, but it is also important to recognise the plight of those who feel forced to leave home through no fault of their own. We must ensure that sufficient services are in place to support them, especially for people who are under 16 and are particularly vulnerable.

The initial analysis from the North Ayrshire police report was shared across child protection committees and adult protection committees. It suggests that a multi-agency response to the Scottish Government’s “National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland” should be considered, which is a welcome development for families in my Cunninghame North constituency and across Scotland. The framework, which was published in May 2017, aims to improve joint working between agencies that are involved in safeguarding missing people. It highlights the need to improve the quality of discussions with a missing person who returns, in the hope that what is learned will help to prevent future runaways. The focus must now be on turning the framework into action.

An upcoming Scottish Government consultation will consider how to assist loved ones with matters such as a missing person’s financial and legal affairs.

Missing People—the only charity in the UK that specialises in, and is dedicated to, bringing missing children and adults back together with their families—already delivers free services, such as guidance on working with the police and counselling. Missing People also runs a free and confidential helpline to provide round-the-clock support to missing children, adults and their families.

Although the pain of a missing loved one can never disappear, we ought to ensure that effective procedures are in place to reduce that pain over time. Each missing person represents a different story, a unique set of circumstances and another group of friends and family members who are left behind and looking for answers. Families never give up until they receive closure one way or another, so it is important to show the same dedication by ensuring that each local authority has plans in place for dealing with missing people and the families that are left behind.

17:15  

I am pleased to have the opportunity to take part in the debate and I thank Fulton MacGregor for securing it, particularly in this important awareness week.

As we have heard, just one day ago, Police Scotland confirmed that it has conducted more than 23,000 investigations into missing persons in the past year, which is up on the number in the previous year. The reasons why people disappear are complex and varied: some people forget where their home is, some make a choice to go missing and some feel like they have no choice at all.

When a person first goes missing, the sooner the search begins the better. Although people do not have to wait 24 hours to report a missing person, current police procedures mean that the UK Missing Persons Bureau will be contacted only once 72 hours have passed. Is that really the right approach? Given that the majority of people who go missing in Scotland are found within two days, perhaps it is time to consider reducing the 72-hour rule to 48 hours.

I want to clarify that it is clear from Police Scotland’s website that when someone is concerned that a person has gone missing, they should report it immediately. That is what Police Scotland wants people to do.

That is entirely right. As I have said, time is crucial when it comes to finding a missing person. We should encourage people to come forward and tell the police as soon as possible. I thank the minister for drawing attention to that.

We should do more to support the families of long-term missing people. Those who go missing often leave behind families and friends who only wish to see their loved ones return home as soon as possible, and their possessions and homes protected. In the worst cases, months and years, and sometimes decades, pass without any sign of people’s whereabouts. For families and friends, that is a tragedy that goes on without end.

The nightmare is often made worse because families are, under Scots law, unable to look after the estate and property of a missing person. That can lead to financial hardship for missing persons, with mortgages, investments and insurances all being risked. Therefore, there is a pressing need to reform our legal guardianship laws. Legislation has already been passed in England and Wales, and Scotland should follow suit. What has become known as Claudia’s law allows families to appoint a legal guardian to look after a missing person’s estate if they have been missing for 90 days or more. Claudia’s law won cross-party support in the UK Parliament and it is time for a similar bill to be introduced in the Scottish Parliament.

When a loved one goes missing, we want to do everything in our power to find them as soon as possible. That is why we should review the 72-hour rule, although I accept that it is important, and that the police have made the point that people should report that a person is missing as soon as possible. However, if we were to bring in the Missing Persons Bureau as soon as possible—maybe one day sooner—that might make all the difference.

More can also be done to help families when a person has been missing for a long time. As it stands, families are unable to look after their missing relative’s estate under Scots law. That is something that we could change. If it were to introduce a bill, the Scottish Government could be sure of getting cross-party support to ensure that a law such as Claudia’s law in England was replicated in Scotland. I urge the Government to do so.

17:19  

I thank Fulton MacGregor for bringing this important debate to the chamber and for his moving tribute to families in his constituency that have missing loved ones.

In 2017-18, an astonishing 23,000 people were reported missing to Police Scotland. Although many of those people were found after a short while, I find that figure incredible. Behind it are thousands more worried families and friends who are left in a state of limbo, with a horrible void in their lives following the disappearance of a loved one. Those families must be supported at every level to ease the pain of this unimaginably difficult time.

When someone goes missing, the effect on their family or loved ones can be devastating: they can be left feeling angry, depressed or bewildered, and they often feel a sense of guilt. I am pleased that, in April 2017, the Scottish Government launched the “National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland”, which includes guidance on support for families and lays out the responsibilities of professionals to support missing children and adults.

I thank Missing People for its briefing. That organisation supported the development of the new framework and was delighted to see its publication. However, the guidance is not statutory and more work needs to be done to ensure that its recommendations are implemented across Scotland.

One of the most chilling aspects of those alarming statistics is that almost two thirds of those who are reported as missing are children and young people. That is terrifying. We know that missing children are at risk of grooming, exploitation and abuse. We also know that a missing episode may be a warning sign that they are suffering harm or abuse at school.

More than half of missing children have experienced conflict, abuse and neglect at home, and one in five children has felt forced to leave. Seven in 10 young people who have been sexually exploited have also been reported missing, and at least one in 10 missing children has mental health issues. Looked-after children are at particularly high risk, as more than half of the children who go missing in Scotland will be in the care system. We must urgently address that situation.

Adults who go missing are also highly vulnerable and may face serious risks. As Fulton MacGregor has outlined, up to eight in every 10 missing adults will be experiencing mental health issues, and three in 10 missing adults will have had a recent relationship breakdown.

When I was growing up in a Lanarkshire village, a neighbour left her house to buy cigarettes from the local shop and was never seen again. To my knowledge, she has never been found. The effect on her family and her young son was devastating.

The good news is that the majority of missing people are found within 24 hours, although they may experience significant harm in that time. A small number of people will remain missing for weeks—sometimes even months or years.

Missing People provides a number of freely accessible services across Scotland. I advise everyone to visit its website—www.missingpeople.org.uk—for full information on those services.

The framework’s success depends on local partnerships following the recommendations. Many, if not all, of the recommendations in the framework rely on multi-agency working, the sharing of information and agreed divisions of responsibility.

As MSPs, we have much to do. We can check that we have a multi-agency group that is responsible for implementing the national framework in our constituencies and that it has a clear action plan for improving the response to missing people. That is definitely at the top of my to-do list.

The agony of families who experience the unexplained disappearance of a loved one is beyond doubt. Let us work together to ensure that we have a framework in place so that we can at least ease that agony.

17:23  

I, too, thank Fulton MacGregor for bringing this important and poignant debate to the chamber. The impact of missing people is serious for the individuals involved, and members have done a good job of highlighting the scale of the issue.

I offer my thanks to Missing People for the invaluable drop-in session that it held today. The information that it provided was hugely useful. I also thank Police Scotland for its excellent missing persons annual report, which is detailed and allows insight into the issue.

I can only begin to imagine what it must be like to suddenly realise that a loved one is not where they are supposed to be—that they have not slept in their bed but have disappeared and did not return home from work. What must go through people’s minds when they realise that, wonder where the person may be and have to make that phone call to the police because they are nowhere to be found? The ripples and impacts of that must last well beyond the incident itself. Regardless of whether the person is missing for a matter of hours, for days or for a week, the ramifications will permeate the family.

We must also have regard to the persons themselves. There appears to be a common denominator when we look at who goes missing. We have heard that two thirds of the people who go missing are children and that, of the adults who go missing, 80 per cent have underlying mental health problems, as Rona Mackay pointed out. The key common denominator is that those people are vulnerable, with a number of vulnerabilities and issues, and going missing is an act of last resort and desperation.

Sometimes, when we debate such things it can be hard to relate to why people might do certain things or act in certain ways, but we have all been in a situation where we have thought, “Maybe it would be better if I just disappeared. Maybe I am the issue and I need to take myself away.” That is a raw human sentiment that we can all relate to, and we must all have sympathy and empathy for people who find themselves in the horrible situation of feeling like that.

The issue has significant scale, as 30,000 people go missing every year and there are 23,000 police cases. I pay tribute to the police, who are at the forefront of locating those people and making the effort so that no stone is left unturned in trying to find the missing loved ones. That takes up a huge proportion of their time.

In my research for the debate, I was taken aback to discover that, last year, Edinburgh had the highest number of cases—3,300. This evening, the call has been made to follow that up, and I will certainly follow it up with my local police division and council to see why that might be the case.

The other key issue is the number of repeat disappearances. According to police reports, 25 per cent of all investigations involve people who have been missing on 10 separate occasions, and half of those who go missing have gone missing before. Those figures underline the challenge. We must have the services in place to do everything that we can not just to track down missing people but to find out why they have gone missing. We must delve into those factors and put right what led them to do that, especially on the first occasion that a person is found and brought home.

We must also welcome the Scottish Government’s framework, which has been a significant step forward, and we should listen to the Missing People charity asks for local action plans, support for families and return discussions. Finally, although the focus should be on the 99 per cent and how we get people home, we should remember the 1 per cent and the tragic circumstances in which people never come home. My thoughts are with those people.

17:27  

I am grateful to my colleague Fulton MacGregor for bringing the important topic of support for families of missing people to the chamber of our Scottish Parliament. I also thank the Missing People charity for its briefing in advance of the debate and, from the outset, I will let anyone affected by the topic know that Missing People is on hand to help missing people and their families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It can provide free and confidential support by phone, text or e-mail. The number is 116000.

I am happy to commit to the asks that Missing People has of MSPs, which Fulton MacGregor laid out. I will certainly see what multi-agency work is going on in Ayrshire and how implementation of the national framework is progressing. I will be happy to raise the issue of support for families and, of course, to refer any constituents with missing loved ones to the Missing People helpline.

The ask of a revised system for legal guardianship that is simpler, lower cost and accessible for families seems sensible and the right thing to do, and I am also happy to support that. I look forward to working with Missing People and with members from across the chamber in the coming months to help ensure that all families of missing people receive the best help and support.

As has been mentioned, 23,000 missing episodes were reported to Police Scotland in 2017-18. Almost two thirds of those reports related to children and young people, with looked-after children being at particularly high risk. Children and young people can go missing for a number of reasons, including unhappiness at home or in a placement, abuse, neglect or child sexual exploitation.

According to the Children’s Society, one in six young runaways ends up sleeping rough, one in eight resorts to begging or stealing to survive and one in 12 is hurt or harmed as a direct result of running away. Some children and young people may feel that they have no choice but to go it alone, and they take huge risks on the streets—begging or stealing to survive, or resorting to drugs and alcohol. They are at risk of grooming by adults who will later exploit and harm them.

More than half the missing children in Scotland will be in the care system. All MSPs are corporate parents to our care-experienced children and young people, and, as such, we should be paying really close attention to the quality of relationships that are experienced in our care system.

We need to understand better and address more quickly the things that might push young people away from their home environment or which might leave them vulnerable to being pulled from it by adults seeking to exploit them. Listening to and acting on the voices at the heart of the care review can really help us to do that.

Police Scotland has already been mentioned. I had a quick look at its website before the debate and it is clear that Police Scotland directs people to Missing People, so it is meeting part of that ask already. It is also clear that Police Scotland takes every report of a missing person seriously. Police Scotland states that most people who go missing return within 48 hours.

I will reiterate this point because it is really important: Police Scotland also states that people do not have to wait 24 hours before reporting someone as missing. If someone you care about or are worried about goes missing, contact the police as soon as you wish to—in an emergency, call 999, and in other circumstances, call 101.

17:31  

The knock at the door; a police officer standing there—the dreaded moment that so many people fear. But sometimes there is no knock at the door. Who can say which is worse? However, not to know what has happened to someone is surely one of the worst possible experiences in life.

In Scotland, the reports of missing people are up by 1,000 in the past year. There may be many, many reasons for someone going missing but every effort needs to be made to understand why, and how to prevent it from happening in other people’s lives.

In 2016-17, almost 20 per cent of investigations were in Edinburgh—the largest number of any council in Scotland. Some of the statistics are shocking. For example, 62 per cent of investigations involve children. One in six young people who go missing overnight sleeps rough or with strangers—that is a frightening statistic and tells us of their vulnerability.

More than half of those who are reported as missing have been missing previously. The national missing persons framework for Scotland focuses on engaging with people who have returned to find out why they went missing and how to prevent it from happening again in the future. That is welcome.

Police Scotland so often goes the extra mile to find people and return them to their families, but return interviews are key in preventing further instances of the same people going missing. Through collaborative working between agencies, including the Government and the police, I hope that we can begin to see the number of cases decrease, rather than increase as they have done this year. Indeed, I would welcome the thoughts of the minister on how the framework is being reviewed in light of this week’s figures.

We must not forget the families of missing persons. Although more than 90 per cent of cases in 2016-17 were concluded within three days, the emotional trauma worsens the longer a loved one is not found.

I welcome the work that is being done by charities such as Missing People in offering help and support to those family members. The impact of a missing person on the life that they have left behind can often be forgotten. Family and friends are often left to deal with the consequences of unpaid bills, for example, adding to the emotional suffering that they already face. That is just one area where more could be done to support families.

Reference has already been made to the possibility of adopting a similar model to the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017 in England and Wales. I am pleased that the Scottish Government recognises some of the difficulties and is looking at what can be done about them. A new procedure could enable a smoother process than what is currently available through the courts and make the lives of family members easier at what is a hugely difficult time.

I welcome Fulton MacGregor bringing the subject to Parliament and I look forward to the Government building on last year’s framework.

17:34  

I, too, congratulate Fulton MacGregor on securing this important debate and take the opportunity to welcome our guests in the gallery. It is clear from the debate that the important issue of missing persons touches the lives of many thousands of people across Scotland, in each of our constituencies. I thank all members for their thoughtful contributions.

The debate has highlighted just how devastating the consequences can be when a person is feeling low or vulnerable. Thankfully, the vast majority of those who go missing come back safe and well, as has been noted. However, that does not ease the pain for those tragic cases in which that does not happen, such as the on-going agony of the family of Moira Anderson and the tragic case of Sean McKenna, which were both mentioned by Fulton MacGregor.

Earlier today, I met Police Scotland as it published the missing persons statistics for 2017-18. As has been mentioned, in the past 12 months Police Scotland has conducted 22,966 investigations for people who were missing—the equivalent of 63 per day. Worryingly, that figure has risen from last year. However, it is important to note that, thanks to the efforts of police and others, 89 per cent of those who were missing returned within two days and 99 per cent returned within three weeks.

It is comforting to know that the vast majority of those who have been missing return safe and well, but their return is unlikely to be the end of the matter for the individual or their family. The underlying issues that led to them going missing in the first place—alluded to by Kenny Gibson—as well as their experiences while they were missing can prove difficult to deal with if support is not available.

The statistics show that anyone can go missing and none of us is immune—a point that Daniel Johnson alluded to—but what is clear is that, more often than not, a person who is missing has gone missing previously. In 57 per cent of missing person investigations in the past 12 months, the person missing had been missing before. That at least provides us with some clues as to where we should focus our efforts. I will come on to the important subject of return interviews shortly.

A year ago, as has been said, the Scottish Government published its “National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland”. That has been praised very widely, is the first of its kind in Scotland and is founded on close collaboration between Police Scotland, NHS Scotland, local authorities, academics and a number of third sector organisations. For many years, highly dedicated people from across Scotland have been working to deliver the best services possible for those who go missing and their families. Our national framework recognises that excellent work and provides the basis for a national and more co-ordinated approach to missing people.

The framework has two basic aims: to prevent people from going missing in the first place and to limit the harm associated with going missing. It recognises the excellent work that is already carried out daily right across Scotland, and acknowledges that there is room for improvement in a few key areas. For one thing, the framework promotes clearer multi-agency working. We know that that can lead to greater information sharing and pooling of resources and, therefore, to improved outcomes for missing people and their families. It also sets out responsibilities and provides for the first time a single definition of a missing person, a consistent approach to risk management—which are both important from a practical perspective—and a consistent approach to conducting return discussions with missing people.

Prevention is central to our approach and we would always like to do what we can to prevent someone from going missing in the first place. However, that is not an easy task, particularly when a person has never been missing before and has given no outward sign of distress to their family and loved ones. When a person returns, as is the case with 99 per cent of those missing in the past 12 months, there is a key opportunity to discuss with the individual their reasons for going missing and to provide support where possible.

Our framework emphasises the importance of those return discussions, which should be available to all returned missing people, providing the opportunity to explore and try to understand the reasons why they went missing. That is why we have been happy to fund a partnership between the Missing People charity, Barnardo’s, Shelter Scotland and the University of Glasgow to develop and deliver return discussion training to front-line staff across Scotland. It aims to standardise and provide a consistent approach to those key discussions.

The timing of such discussions has to be looked at on a case-by-case basis because it might be that, when the person first returns, they are incapable of talking about their experience and why they went. It might be that, for that person, a bit of time should pass before any return discussion takes place. That is the flexible approach that our excellent front-line agencies take.

Much has been said about support for families and we are prioritising that through our framework. We know that, when a person goes missing, the impact is felt much more widely than simply by the individual; it is felt by their families and loved ones. When a person goes missing, Police Scotland will provide support to families, often through a single point of contact, to help them cope with what can be a highly traumatic experience.

Beyond that, Police Scotland will also refer families to wider support, such as that provided by the Missing People charity. The charity offers specialist support through its 24-hour helpline and telephone counselling service. I am pleased to say that Police Scotland and the Missing People charity today re-launched their memorandum of understanding and partnership to support missing people and their families. That is a positive development and a real boost for those who are struggling to cope with a missing loved one.

We have been an advocate for those services and have provided £142,000 over three years to the Missing People charity to increase awareness of and the use of those important support services by those who need them in Scotland.

On next steps, today I published a review of the progress that we have made in the first year of the national missing persons framework for Scotland. I hope that members from across the chamber will have a look at that review and welcome the progress that we are making.

We are, however, clear that more needs to be done. There are a number of priorities for us during the next twelve months. For example, we will progress the implementation of the framework across Scotland, and ensure that it is embedded in local authorities. We will also continue to promote the key areas of multi-agency working and risk assessment, and to develop more consistency in the approach to return discussions. We will continue to work with partners to achieve those aims.

We will also look to develop educational material to build awareness of the risks of going missing, and we will work with Education Scotland to ensure that that message is delivered to children and young people. As we have heard, 64 per cent of missing persons investigations involve children and young people. We must therefore do more to get the message out about the dangers of going missing and the risks that children and young people would be exposed to if they do go missing.

In response to an issue raised by Ruth Maguire, Edward Mountain and Gordon Lindhurst, among others, the national framework recognises the need to look at the administrative options for handling missing persons’ estates. We are considering the Scottish Law Commission’s report on judicial factors, and that consideration will include the handling of missing persons’ estates. A consultation on the recommendations is due to be published later this year.

The Scottish Government is fully aware of the impact that going missing can have on the individual and their family. Our national missing persons framework for Scotland provides a co-ordinated approach to the issue. However, we know that it is the expertise and knowledge that exists across many organisations and agencies that achieve successful outcomes for people who have been missing. Scotland is not just leading the way in having a national missing persons framework, it has world-class front-line services that work day in, day out with missing people and their families; I pay tribute to them tonight. Without that expertise, we would not be able to say that 99 per cent of missing people in Scotland are returned. We will continue to harness that expertise and, when possible, build on its success. The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing the aims of the framework to prevent people from going missing and to limit the associated harm when they do.

Meeting closed at 17:44.