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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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1999–2026

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Official Report

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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Older People’s Housing

Over the past five years, in representing Banffshire and Buchan Coast, I have met many older constituents who are deeply worried about the future of such complexes. Those cases have touched my heart, and they are urgent. Those people want to stay independent and they want home...

3. Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Older People’s Housing

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that older people’s housing, including sheltered housing, is prioritised in local housing planning and delivery. (S6O-05711)

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Oil and Gas Supply Chain (Job Losses)

It is Labour’s reckless decision to continue the energy profits levy, but it was started by the Tories, and it is causing hundreds of job losses. Experts are warning that it is going to cost thousands more. It is going to undermine energy security and the just transition that ...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time

Presiding Officer,“Labour are doing to Aberdeen what Margaret Thatcher did to Middlesbrough, and it’s utterly shameful.”Those are the words and assessment of GMB general secretary Gary Smith on the impact of the Labour United Kingdom Government’s policies on the north-east and...

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Bus Services (Rural and Coastal Constituencies)

A survey that I recently carried out in my constituency of Banffshire and Buchan Coast showed extremely low satisfaction with the local Stagecoach bus services, because of repeated cancellations, poor communication and concerns about accessibility. Many people told me that the...

5. Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Bus Services (Rural and Coastal Constituencies)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the reliability and accountability of bus services in rural and coastal constituencies. (S6O-05631)

The Convener SNP Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

We will now move into private session to consider the remaining items on our agenda.10:00Meeting continued in private until 12:04.

The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning, and welcome to the 8th meeting of 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Marie McNair.Our only public agenda item is to agree to take in private, in the committee’s remaining meetings durin...

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

Does the member agree that the two-child benefit cap and a restriction in public service spending would affect the poverty-related attainment gap?

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

I understand what the member says about time, but things have changed so much in the past six years since Covid. Also, young people just do not know what type of roles and jobs will be available in the future. They might be in school right now, but the jobs that they will be g...

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

I identified in my opening remarks that we are not saying that the situation is perfect. There are areas that need improvement. The cabinet secretary said that herself. However, it is not blanket failure—absolutely not.I have lived experience of things that have not gone well,...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

This debate cannot be reduced to the idea that Scottish education is simply failing, because that is just not true. Yes, there are pressures; yes, there are areas where improvement is needed; and yes, Opposition parties are right to raise those concerns. However, they should a...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Future Farming Investment Scheme

Does the minister agree that the £21.4 million investment, which will be augmented by at least a further £14.25 million this financial year, in addition to the most generous direct support package in the UK, highlights that positive action is being taken to invest in our rural...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

As no other members wish to comment, that concludes consideration of the instruments.Before we move into private to consider the remaining items on our agenda, I note that, although there will be further meetings in private to consider our draft reports, this is expected to be...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Do any other members wish to comment?

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Do members agree to write to the Government to ask about that?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Welcome back. Our third agenda item is consideration of six Scottish statutory instruments under the negative procedure. I refer members to paper 3. Do members have any comments to make about any of the instruments?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

That is really interesting, and it is great to hear that that work is on-going.That brings us to the end of the evidence session. I thank our witnesses very much for joining us. I suspend the meeting briefly before we move to our next agenda item.11:10Meeting suspended.11:18On...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

I was also thinking about the preventative work that you have spoken about and that early-years intervention. That would be covered as well.Another side—which you touched on, Jemina—is the education of perpetrators. In what you have said today, I hear trauma for deaf mothers a...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Before we move on, I will pick up on a point that Tess White made. The committee highlighted in our post-legislative scrutiny of the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 that there should be parity with Gaelic. I am paying attention to what you have said about that. If th...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

We will now move on to questions from Rhoda Grant, who joins us online.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Would Lucy like to come in at this point?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

That is great. Thank you. We will move on to questions from Marie McNair.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

I am cognisant of the fact that we are now an hour into this evidence session, and we still have half an hour to go, so I just want to check whether we are okay or whether anyone needs a comfort break. Do we need to suspend briefly for a few minutes, or are we all good?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

That is great, thank you so much, Lucy.10:15

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

That is really interesting, Jemina, because if you do not have the language for it, how do you communicate it? That is a really pertinent point. Thank you for that.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

I understand that things such as sexual health, women’s hormones and sexual consent are often taboo to talk about, but coercive control is quite hard to describe in the hearing world as it is. We know that those discussions are often hard to have in the public space, so should...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

We will now move on to questions from Paul McLennan.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Thank you for that, Lucy. Some of the most disturbing evidence that you have presented relates to children being used as interpreters. When the police arrive on the scene, children as young as six or seven are having to communicate between their mother and the police and descr...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

We move to questions from Maggie Chapman.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

I realise that you might not have the information to hand, but is the lack of interpreters due to the density of the population being in the central belt or is to a lack of access to education?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Thank you all very much. We will move on to questions. Jemina, you touched on this in your opening statement. Given the shortage of interpreters, what specific approaches would most effectively improve access to qualified BSL interpreters in domestic abuse and justice settings?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Our second agenda item is a consideration of the findings of a joint research report on the perspectives of deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on deaf families, by Professor Jemina Napier, Dr Claire Houghton, Lucy Clar...

The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning and welcome to the seventh meeting in 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have no apologies this morning. Pam Gosal and Rhoda Grant join us remotely.Our first agenda item is a decision on taking in private agenda ite...

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

That is a great point on which to end. I thank the minister and his officials for attending the meeting.We will go into private to discuss the remaining agenda items.12:17Meeting continued in private until 12:41.

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

I have a final question, which is about employment—I recognise that it is not specifically connected to your portfolio. People with lived experience of being neurodivergent have told us about their experiences in the workplace and in trying to access work. Most of them really ...

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

Rhoda, do you want to ask your questions on criminal justice?

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

We move on to questions from Marie McNair, who will be followed by Paul McLennan.

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

Thank you very much for that really helpful feedback.

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

How will the new £7.5 million of funding for neurodevelopmental assessments reduce waiting times and when will you see measurable improvements?

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

Thank you. We now move to members’ questions, and I will kick us off. What concrete actions does the Scottish Government intend to take to ensure that a functioning, consistent neurodevelopmental assessment pathway is available to people across Scotland?

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

Welcome back. Our next agenda item is our final evidence session in our inquiry into neurodivergence in Scotland. I welcome to the meeting Tom Arthur, who is Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing. The minister is accompanied by Georgia de Courcy Wheeler, who is CAMHS a...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

That brings this agenda item to a close. I thank the minister and her officials once again for joining us. We will suspend briefly for a changeover of witnesses.11:06Meeting suspended.11:09On resuming—

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We move on to questions from Tess White.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We will move to Rhoda Grant, please.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Rhoda Grant has a supplementary question.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We move to questions from members, and I will kick us off. What specific progress has been made on the human rights bill?

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Welcome back. Our fourth agenda item is to take evidence on Scotland-specific issues raised in the concluding observations and recommendations of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Scottish Government published its high-level action plan ...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

That concludes consideration of the instruments. We will suspend briefly to set up for our next agenda item.09:47Meeting suspended.09:57On resuming—

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Our next item of business is consideration of three negative Scottish statutory instruments. As no member has indicated that they have comments, are members content not to make any comments to the Parliament on any of the instruments?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

That concludes this agenda item. I thank the minister and officials for their attendance.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Do members agree to delegate to me approval of the publication of a short factual report on our deliberations on the affirmative instrument that we have considered today?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We move to agenda item 3, which is the formal consideration of motion S6M-20605. I invite the minister to move the motion.Motion moved,That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Fees) (Miscellaneous Am...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We now have questions from Paul McLennan.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you. We will move on to questions from Maggie Chapman.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Our second agenda item is consideration of a draft affirmative instrument. I welcome to the meeting Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, who is accompanied by the following Scottish Government officials: Ciaran McDonald, legal aid reform team leader, and ...

The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning, and welcome to the sixth meeting in 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Pam Gosal, and Maggie Chapman and Paul McLennan are joining us remotely.Our first agenda item is a decision on tak...

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

Public Services (Funding)

Will the member take an intervention?

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Public Services (Funding)

I am grateful to have the opportunity to debate the motion, and I thank Alexander Burnett for bringing it to the chamber. However, there is something quite ironic about the subject of the debate, and I will not shy away from calling that out.We cannot let the Conservatives off...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time

This week, Scotland reaches a milestone as more than 50,000 households receive support to live in a warmer home, with homes now being cheaper to heat. Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party Government published plans that could mean that communities across Scotland see more mo...

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Committee

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee 03 March 2026 [Draft]

03 Mar 2026 · S6 · Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Item of business

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Professor Napier Watch on SPTV

That is a good question. I will begin before handing over to Lucy Clark, who has had a lot more involvement with that service.The Deaf Links and Women’s Aid pilot is definitely what such a service could look like, because it has brought in signing practitioners. They have three qualified independent domestic abuse advocates—IDAAs—all of whom can sign. The ideal next step would be to have qualified IDAAs who are themselves deaf, because the deaf mothers told us that they wanted to be able to talk to someone they can relate to, not only because they have experience of domestic abuse, but because they are deaf and can understand the barriers and general issues. Having someone who can sign is definitely the first step, but we would like to see more deaf people being trained and becoming qualified to work.The model means that direct advocacy is being provided through people who understand deaf cultural norms and what deaf people need. They understand how information is expressed in British Sign Language, where the resources are lacking and where to find them, and they can even advise on something as simple as how to book interpreters. They can advocate for deaf women’s rights when they come into contact with other services such as the police, healthcare or social work.Lucy may be able to expand on that a little.

In the same item of business

The Convener SNP

Our second agenda item is a consideration of the findings of a joint research report on the perspectives of deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domesti...

Professor Jemina Napier (Heriot-Watt University)

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language) I will start in sign language, because of my respect for Lucy as the deaf author and for the deaf wo...

Lucy Clark (LCC Scotland)

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language) Our research focused on deaf parents. We found that their experience of emotional and physical abuse...

Professor Napier

Just to continue on that thread, the deaf women told us that they were experiencing in effect a double trauma because they have a lack of access to informati...

Dr Claire Houghton (University of Edinburgh)

I just want to talk a little bit about what deaf women have told us about being mothers. They were particularly worried about the unique impact of domestic a...

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language) I really appreciate the Deputy First Minister mentioning how she was inspired by our recommendations...

The Convener SNP

Thank you all very much. We will move on to questions. Jemina, you touched on this in your opening statement. Given the shortage of interpreters, what specif...

Professor Napier

That is an excellent question. It is a question that we have been battling with for some time in relation to access to public services in general. When we lo...

The Convener SNP

I realise that you might not have the information to hand, but is the lack of interpreters due to the density of the population being in the central belt or ...

Professor Napier

It is actually a bit of both. We know that more deaf people live in the central belt than in other parts of Scotland. Heriot-Watt University has a four-year ...

The Convener SNP

We move to questions from Maggie Chapman.

Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green

Good morning, and thank you for being with us today.I will pick up on a couple of points. Professor Napier, you spoke in your opening remarks about the Deaf ...

Professor Napier

That is a good question. I will begin before handing over to Lucy Clark, who has had a lot more involvement with that service.The Deaf Links and Women’s Aid ...

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language) What we have to bear in mind is that deaf mothers come from a variety of backgrounds—from grass-root...

Maggie Chapman Green

:You have talked about a victim/survivor perhaps being reticent about trusting or relying on a service because of past experience, and about the value of hav...

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language) It is all about increasing BSL resources. It would be beneficial if each service received deaf aware...

Maggie Chapman Green

:Thank you. That was really helpful. As somebody who previously worked in the Rape Crisis network, I know that we never talked about BSL or deaf culture. It ...

Dr Houghton

It is an important part of this, but it is really just one part. Mothers said that they received very little help in supporting their children through domest...

Maggie Chapman Green

:The committee will reflect on your point about what we can do about families, whether it is the mother or the child, not trusting somebody else enough to te...

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language)We also have to think carefully about the next generations. We need to include BSL in education right...

The Convener SNP

Thank you for that, Lucy. Some of the most disturbing evidence that you have presented relates to children being used as interpreters. When the police arrive...

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language) I could not agree more.

The Convener SNP

We will now move on to questions from Paul McLennan.

Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP) SNP

A lack of understanding of rights and consent is a risk factor for deaf women, and Lucy Clark has touched on the need for early education and awareness raisi...

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language) I am sorry—a little bit more about what?

Paul McLennan SNP

:A bit more about early education and awareness raising, particularly on the consent issue, because I think that that is really important.

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language) I was surprised when I went to a workshop for the definiTAY project in Dundee, because all the women...

Paul McLennan SNP

:What is the best way to tackle that situation? Is it through schools and through early education for women? Is it through organisations such as Deaf Action?...

(simultaneous interpretation from British Sign Language) I come back to our earlier point about the need for more deaf IDAAs, more deaf trainers, and more de...