Hansard

The Convener Lab

The next new petition is PE1596, by Chris Daly, Paul Anderson and James McDermott, on In Care Survivors Service Scotland. Members have a note from the clerk,...

Chris Daly

Paul Anderson and I were going to split our brief opening statement, convener.

The Convener Lab

That is fine.

Chris Daly

Thank you. Good morning. I am Chris Daly, and my colleague Paul Anderson is with me this morning. We are service users of In Care Survivors Service Scotland...

The Convener Lab

Mr Daly, I must point out that you have had about 10 minutes and you are severely eating into the amount of time that will be available to committee members ...

Chris Daly

I apologise, convener. The issues are complex and many sided.

The Convener Lab

I understand that, but we can get into the complexities of the issues by asking questions. We do not have to hear everything in your statement.

Chris Daly

In that case, I will hand over to Paul Anderson, who will make a short statement that will give you a more personal slant on using the service.

The Convener Lab

That is fine.

Paul Anderson

Thank you, convener, and I thank everyone else for giving me the chance to speak. I am a survivor of child abuse. I have with me a dossier containing 19 let...

The Convener Lab

Mr Daly and Mr Anderson, thank you very much for that information. It is obvious that the service being provided is very valuable and that you are genuinely ...

Paul Anderson

I do not have the facts here, but what I have picked up suggests that because the funding is going to stop, no more referrals are being made. As a result, th...

The Convener Lab

So we are talking not about a reduction in funding but a complete cessation of funding. Is that correct?

Paul Anderson

As I understand it, yes.

The Convener Lab

Are you aware of any recommended replacement to which the funding has been redirected? Is there anything in the pipeline?

Chris Daly

What we are trying to say is that this service, which has been providing very good and at times life-saving support in times of crisis for survivors of in-ca...

Angus MacDonald SNP

I should perhaps declare an interest as a strong supporter of Open Secret, which is based in my neighbouring constituency of Falkirk East. I believe that its...

Chris Daly

As I have said, we think that ICSSS, in its current form, could enhance the new service. That would not mean that the service would have the overall tender f...

Angus MacDonald SNP

So you are looking for the money to be distributed in both directions.

Chris Daly

Yes.

Angus MacDonald SNP

Your reference to the issue of the legal ownership of records raised a concern in my mind. You are right to be concerned about the fact that the records migh...

Chris Daly

They are.

Angus MacDonald SNP

Will Open Secret will be required to release those records to whichever agency takes on the case?

Chris Daly

It has been ordered to do that, but I am not sure about the legality of that approach. My understanding is that the ownership of the files lies with the clie...

Angus MacDonald SNP

I can understand the concern of survivors about those files being released to other agencies. Perhaps the committee can check the position.

The Convener Lab

I am happy for us to discuss that.

John Wilson Ind

Like Angus MacDonald, I am aware of the work that Open Secret has done and know that it originally tendered to deliver the services of ICSSS seven years ago....

Chris Daly

I put in a freedom of information request to the Scottish Government about facts and figures, including the costings for some things, but the Scottish Govern...

John Wilson Ind

In response to a question from Jackie Baillie in June last year, the cabinet secretary said that the Scottish Government had announced funding of £13.5 milli...

Chris Daly

After discussions with survivors and development workers at ICSSS, we came up with a plan for how ICSSS and the new brokering model could co-exist in a way t...