Holyrood, made browsable

Hansard

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.

129
Current MSPs
415
MSPs ever elected
13
Parties on record
2,354,908
Hansard contributions
1999–2026
Coverage span
Official Report

Search Hansard contributions

Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
02 Sep 2021
Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I am glad that Pam Duncan-Glancy asked that question, because it allows me to clarify that, when I talked earlier about 2025, I meant that that is when we aim to have completed case transfer. In the process of delivering Scottish carers assistance, we are looking into what eli...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
09 Mar 2017
Citizen’s Income
One question is practical and one is theoretical. The practical question is for Howard Reed. In your submission you say that, if a scheme were to be introduced, you would recommend that it start “at a relatively low level and work upwards from there”. Can you comment further...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Committee
25 May 2017
Two-child Limit (Tax Credits and Universal Credit)
I am interested in the comparisons that Engender drew using American case studies. Are there any other points that you want to draw out, particularly with regard to the fact that the family cut did not change behaviour but pushed people further into poverty? I associate mysel...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
13 Mar 2018
Remand
I thought that, for the benefit of the committee, it might be worth others’ hearing that. My experience in my constituency relates to many of the points that you raise. Thank you for that. Going back to my substantive question, I note that Professor Hutton says very pertinent...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
18 Sep 2018
Topical Question Time · Migration Advisory Committee Report
I thank Neil Findlay, too, for that important question. I share much of the sentiment in it. First, I absolutely value all skills in our economy. The point that I was making is that one of the problems with the MAC report is that it includes a hierarchy that stresses some ski...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Nov 2020
Portfolio Question Time · Green Recovery
That is an important question. Neil Findlay will be aware that the UK emissions trading scheme—the contracts for difference scheme—is reserved, so many of the aspects with which he contextualises his question are matters for the UK Government. It is important to reflect on th...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
14 Jan 2021
Portfolio Question Time · Fly-tipping
I thank Mr Carson for that important follow-up and the technical detail. Given that the supplementary question covers both this portfolio and the finance portfolio, I will take his question away, consult finance colleagues and provide him with a written response on the matters...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
28 Oct 2021
Subordinate Legislation
We will take the issue away and, if we can provide the committee and Mr Balfour with any further information, we will be forthcoming in that respect. As for Mr Balfour’s second question about why the Scottish Government has changed its mind about the phrase “throughout the ni...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
02 Dec 2021
Subordinate Legislation
I will take the second question first, which was about why a first-come, first-served approach was considered an acceptable backstop provision. It was not considered an acceptable backstop provision. To give the wider context, the original Scottish child payment rules stated ...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
15 Jun 2023
National Outcomes
Please excuse me, but I am going to take us back to a few earlier points. There was some discussion about our presence in Africa. This can be an open question to come back on, if people do not have an answer now. The Scottish Government has an international development presenc...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
28 Jun 2023
Additional Support for Learning
I have a question for COSLA, if I may. My question is related to the need to ensure that we have support and resource. We talked earlier about the increase that we have seen for all the various reasons that we have discussed, and Mr Mulholland spoke about the excellent work th...
The Deputy Convener SNP Committee
28 Nov 2023
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Welcome back. I welcome our next panel of witnesses, who are academic experts in the field of circular economy policy: Toni Freitas, lecturer in circular economy and programme director for the MSc in the circular economy at the University of Edinburgh; Dr Henry Irving, senior ...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Chamber
18 Dec 2024
Holyrood Park
I pay tribute to Lorna Slater for bringing this motion and subject area to the Parliament for debate. I have a long attachment to Holyrood park. My best pal when I was very young used to live on Royal Park Terrace, and going into Holyrood park was an almost weekly occurrence....
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
18 Nov 2025
Topical Question Time · University of Edinburgh (Redundancies)
As I stated in my first answer, the university sector across the UK is facing multiple challenges. In Scotland, many of those challenges are external. For example, there is the estimated cost of more than £48 million to Scottish universities because of the increase in national...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
04 Dec 2025
Portfolio Question Time · Skills Development (North-east Fishing Industry)
We had significant discussion on the bill that the member mentioned at during its stage 2 consideration both yesterday and last week. I must say that I find the Scottish Labour Party’s approach to the whole issue quite perplexing. On the one hand, it states that it wants to in...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Chamber
20 Sep 2016
Economy (EU Referendum)
Before I was elected I spent several years working as a commercial lawyer at the heart of Scotland’s economic activity. In that and other roles, I witnessed at first hand just how much of an attractive and stable place Scotland is to do business in. Let us remember that. Altho...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Committee
22 Sep 2016
Work Programme Priorities
My question is on the thematic point about the need to create a system based on dignity and respect. I thought that Craig Wilson from SCVO put it very well. Our collective ambition should be to create a system in which we treat others with empathy, not with suspicion. In gener...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Committee
15 Jun 2017
Body-worn Video
My question is on the same theme that Mary Fee pursued in her question. Do these devices have any capacity or potential to be used in slow-time inquiries? Furthermore, is there any evidence of a deterrent effect on crime when communities are aware that these devices are being ...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Committee
21 Sep 2017
Social Security (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I want to come back to the principles. I have a number of questions based on what has been said already. The points that were made about accessibility have certainly come back in the feedback that we have received from current claimants. If members of the panel would like to e...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Committee
02 Nov 2017
Social Security (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I want to move the questioning on to an area that has produced a lot of evidence, both in writing and orally here at committee—the principles of the bill in section 1. In your opening remarks, you made reference to the evidence received on advocacy and I welcome what you stat...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
21 Dec 2017
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19
It does—it is helpful for our analysis in future years to know that that action is being taken. I have one last question, on the “Discretionary Housing Payments—other” budget line. Has there been any consideration of whether local authorities will receive the same funding in ...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
22 Mar 2018
Fair Work
I welcome the question and will shortly come on to the issue that Johann Lamont has raised. However, the issue that we need to consider is that the business pledge cannot be enforced in law here because we do not have proper powers over employment law in the Scottish Parliamen...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Committee
10 May 2018
Digital Device Triage Systems
My supplementary question is related to Daniel Johnson’s question on the preliminary work that was done. Like Mr Johnson, I am an MSP for Edinburgh—my constituency is Edinburgh Northern and Leith. I am concerned about the lack of preliminary work and the fact that the position...
The Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development (Ben Macpherson) SNP Chamber
18 Sep 2018
Topical Question Time · Migration Advisory Committee Report
As this is my first time speaking as Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development, I draw members’ attention to my voluntary entry in the register of members’ interests. For transparency, I refer the chamber to the fact that my partner is employed by Christian ...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
18 Sep 2018
Topical Question Time · Migration Advisory Committee Report
I thank Pauline McNeill for that important question. There is an interesting balance between high-skilled and low-skilled workers. The way that the report prefers some people over others is disappointing, and will be disappointing to industries across Scotland, including touri...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
28 Nov 2018
Portfolio Question Time · Glasgow School of Art
I thank Johann Lamont for that question and agree with her comments on the significance of the building as an institution and the wider impact of the fire. The member will be aware that, in July, the Scottish Government announced that it would establish a recovery fund of up ...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
28 Nov 2018
Portfolio Question Time · Glasgow School of Art
As Adam Tomkins stated, whether the Mackintosh building should be rebuilt is a decision for the Glasgow School of Art. As the Mackintosh building is owned by the GSA, which is an independent body, its future is a matter for the GSA board, and the board has made clear its inten...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
28 Nov 2018
Portfolio Question Time · Tourism (Industrial Heritage Sites)
As I mentioned in my answer to Brian Whittle’s first question, Museums Galleries Scotland is the national development body for museums and galleries in Scotland. It is funded by the Scottish Government to support more than 400 accredited institutions around the country, whethe...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
28 Nov 2018
Portfolio Question Time · Music Sector (International Promotion)
Rachael Hamilton will have noted from my first answer the support that the Scottish Government gives to our music industry. With regard to the proportion of music funding that is available for education, she would better direct the question to the Deputy First Minister and Cab...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
30 Jan 2019
Portfolio Question Time · Brexit (Settled Status Fee)
Absolutely. I welcome the sentiment of Neil Findlay’s question. I wish that we had seen such a coherent position from Labour in the House of Commons earlier this week on the UK Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill. The UK Government’s hostile env...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
07 Mar 2019
European Union Settlement Scheme
I thank Emma Harper for that question. The seasonal agricultural workers scheme is useful in some ways, but it is inadequate and will not be a substitute for freedom of movement. That is why the Scottish Government is pressing the UK Government to rethink its white paper propo...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
09 Oct 2019
Portfolio Question Time · Culture and Tourism (Participation by Disabled People and People with Long-term Health Conditions)
The Scottish Government knows that actions are important in terms of making a difference when it comes to accessibility and the 2010 act and also with regard to ensuring that we are taking forward the disability delivery plan. We need to know that our actions are making a diff...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
20 Nov 2019
Portfolio Question Time · Immigration Policy (Independent Scotland)
The Scottish Government has long expressed concern about the current UK Government’s immigration policies, including those on asylum seekers, and about the UK Government position that asylum seekers can have no recourse to public funds. That is an area in which we could, of co...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
22 Jan 2020
Portfolio Question Time · Christmas and New Year Celebrations (Edinburgh)
Responsibility for Underbelly’s contract to produce Edinburgh’s Christmas resides solely with City of Edinburgh Council. For clarity, the Scottish Government has never provided any funding support for that festival. As Alison Johnstone has alluded, City of Edinburgh Council i...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
05 Mar 2020
Portfolio Question Time · Landfill Tax
As I said, work is under way to explore further changes to the landfill tax. However, in general, we expect local authorities to discharge their statutory obligations using their existing funding. In the case of the transition to the ban on biodegradable municipal waste going ...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
04 Jun 2020
Portfolio Question Time · Tax Revenues (Estimated Shortfall)
The Scottish Fiscal Commission will provide a forecast for LBTT at the appropriate time, as I highlighted in response to the initial question from Colin Beattie. As Ms Baillie might be aware, Revenue Scotland’s statistics show that total LBTT receipts fell by £31.8 million in...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
19 Aug 2020
Subordinate Legislation
Thank you, Mr Fraser; that is an important question. If the committee is happy for us to do so, we can take a few minutes to answer that in full. Again, we give an undertaking to Mr Fraser and the convener to write to the committee on Mr Fraser’s previous point, when more info...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
10 Sep 2020
Immigration
Thank you for raising those important questions. I refer you to the initiatives set out in the programme for government, particularly those on our commitments to reskilling and providing more resource in that area, and to the work that Jamie Hepburn is doing in that regard. T...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
10 Sep 2020
Immigration
No, but I will come back to that shortly. First, though, in your earlier question, you rightly emphasised the need for a co-ordinated, cross-Government approach to such an important area. It might therefore be useful to Mr Lockhart and the committee if I undertake to write to ...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
10 Sep 2020
Immigration
I did not hear the beginning of the question, but I will answer what I heard. Your point about Scotland’s story of outward migration is important for context and for how we understand our current demographics. There is some cause for optimism. The expert advisory group’s most...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
15 Sep 2020
Migration and Care Workers
That is always a challenging question. It is an important question in that our population strategy, which I mentioned and which Claire Baker also highlighted, will consider the options and devolved policy making in the round in relation to increasing the birth rate, and that o...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Nov 2020
Portfolio Question Time · Green Recovery
Our commitment on recycling is embedded in legislation and is in partnership with local government. Recycling is an important part of our collective commitment to and focus on reducing our waste in a way that is as carbon neutral as possible. We are focused on an approach that...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Nov 2020
Portfolio Question Time · Green Recovery
Excuse me, Presiding Officer, but I did not pick up all of that question, because of the poor quality of the line. However, some of the points that Liam McArthur raised would perhaps be better directed at Mr Wheelhouse. I give an undertaking that I or Mr Wheelhouse will write ...
The Minister for Public Finance and Migration (Ben Macpherson) SNP Chamber
11 Nov 2020
Portfolio Question Time · High Streets (Regeneration Funding)
That is an important question. We have established a collaborative town centre review to develop a new vision for our towns, taking Covid-19 into account, and to establish the means to achieve that. The review, which is due to report in December, will help us to decide what fu...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Nov 2020
Portfolio Question Time · High Streets (Regeneration Funding)
The town centre review will consider all issues for town centres, including the provision of affordable social housing, the ownership of vacant properties and considerations around that when it comes to planning law. Kevin Stewart is very interested in that, as members would e...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
25 Jan 2021
Subordinate Legislation
As you alluded to in your question, the criminal penalties that we have included in the regulations are the maximum that are permitted under the 2016 act. That maximum could be amended in the next or a future session of Parliament through secondary legislation under section 39...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Feb 2021
Portfolio Question Time · Flood Resilience (Mid Scotland and Fife)
I am sure that the member will appreciate that the cyberattack was a very significant situation. Measures to deal with that situation and its consequences are on-going. As the member references, the SEPA flood warnings are an important contribution to the building of more res...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Feb 2021
Portfolio Question Time · Flood Resilience (Mid Scotland and Fife)
I apologise, but I did not hear the whole of Mr Rennie’s question, due to a difficulty with the connection. On funding for Fife in general terms, it is for local authorities to determine the allocation of funding in collaboration with other partners, including the Scottish Go...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Feb 2021
Portfolio Question Time · National Performance Framework (Environment)
There are quite a number of points in that question, and I will be happy to correspond with the member as a follow-up. The national performance framework is a strategy that will strengthen and build on the links between air quality and other key Government policies and strate...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Feb 2021
Portfolio Question Time · Agriculture (Research)
The funding that Rachael Hamilton references with regard to research has been considered, as one would expect. I am not clear on the direct link to the question on Scottish Government research. As I emphasised in my first answer, we fund a range of research, particularly throu...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
24 Feb 2021
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
I thank Mike Rumbles and Emma Harper for their comments. The action that the amendments seek to undertake is in line with the recommendations of the committee and the discussions that we had collectively in the stage 1 debate. The intention of the amendments, as I put forward ...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
10 Mar 2021
Portfolio Question Time · Littering
I refer members to the Government-initiated question S5W-35780, which was answered on Monday. That answer gives the latest update on the deposit return scheme.
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson) SNP Chamber
03 Nov 2021
Portfolio Question Time · Local Government (Decision Making)
I understand that officials unsuccessfully tried to obtain clarification from Mr Greene’s office on what proposals he is referring to in his question. In the absence of that clarification, I have assumed that Mr Greene is referring to planning decision making, which is the res...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
04 Nov 2021
Social Security Benefits
I refer Mr Balfour to my last comment: we are currently working on the parameters for the provision of indefinite awards, and I am happy to keep the Parliament updated on that. Considerations were raised on the 20m rule. It is important to emphasise that we are making changes...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
11 Nov 2021
Benefit Take-up Strategy
I thank Mr Choudhury for that question. However, that is not an area of responsibility for me, as social security minister; it is a question for the Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport. Perhaps the convener and committee could note that and engage with the min...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
19 Jan 2022
Portfolio Question Time · Covid-19 (Welfare Support for People in Employment)
I thank Jeremy Balfour for raising those important points, and I agree with the sentiment behind his question. I would like to take that suggestion away and engage further with Mr Balfour and the finance and economy ministers to consider the points that he has raised.
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
27 Jan 2022
Subordinate Legislation
That is an important question. I thank you for the important words about where we are with the adult disability payment. The question was about how we keep an eye on rising costs that need to be paid alongside the duty to take up and promote ADP and other benefits. Fellow min...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
09 Mar 2022
Portfolio Question Time · Local Authorities (Front-line Services)
In answering that question, I will first put on record again ministers’ admiration of and gratitude for all the efforts and contributions that local authority staff members have made throughout the pandemic in the recent period. Having worked for a local authority in such a ro...
Ben Macpherson SNP Committee
17 Mar 2022
Subordinate Legislation
I saw some of the previous session. I am happy to correspond with the committee on those important points that Mr Briggs raises. It is a question not only for social security ministers but for the finance portfolio, so there is a question about how the committee might want to ...
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
04 May 2022
Portfolio Question Time · Adult Disability Payment (Indefinite Award)
That is not entirely relevant to the question about indefinite awards. Ms Duncan-Glancy is aware of the engagement that we have had with the committee and the UK Government on adult disability payment and the eligibility criteria for it. As she knows, we have committed to star...
← Back to list
Committee

Social Justice and Social Security Committee 02 September 2021

02 Sep 2021 · S6 · Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Item of business
Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Macpherson, Ben SNP Edinburgh Northern and Leith Watch on SPTV
I am glad that Pam Duncan-Glancy asked that question, because it allows me to clarify that, when I talked earlier about 2025, I meant that that is when we aim to have completed case transfer. In the process of delivering Scottish carers assistance, we are looking into what eligibility changes we can make, and we are in discussions with the DWP and others on that. I talked earlier about the fact that we will be consulting this winter and we have engaged extensively with unpaid carers and organisations that represent them over the past five years to consider ways to improve social security support for unpaid carers. Through that work we have developed a series of aims for Scottish carers assistance and a range of options for change; those include considerations around the earning threshold, removing the restrictions for those in full-time education and increasing the period of time for which payments can continue following the death of a cared-for person. Those are a number of points of consideration and those options are currently undergoing detailed objective evaluation to make sure that we take forward the right combination of changes at the right time and in the right way to ensure the best outcomes for carers. The important point in Pam Duncan-Glancy’s question and my answer so far is the complex interactions between carer benefits and the reserved benefits system, which means that this bill is not the time to try to rush through changes to existing carer benefits. We need to do that through the development of Scottish carers assistance, because we need to make sure that there are no unforeseen consequences and that it can be delivered. If Parliament passes the bill, we have the finance secured and the delivery mechanism through Social Security Scotland to get the money into people’s pockets in December, which is what we want to do. We need to collectively consider as a Parliament how we support carers more widely in the development of Scottish carers assistance. I will conclude with some information that I hope will be helpful in answer to your question. At this stage, we continue to make good progress on the launch of Scottish carers assistance. We have finished pre-discovery work with the DWP and have made sure that we have a full understanding of current carers allowance processes. There is a question around processes and delivery and we need to make sure that agencies can successfully get resources to people in a practical way. As I said, we are about to commence, in the next quarter, feasibility work on how we will deliver Scottish carers assistance. Our aim is to begin build for Scottish carers assistance in the new year, and we expect a minimum of 18 months of build. All that work needs to go in to ensure that the systems are effective and there is robust delivery. Given the complex interactions between carer benefits and the reserved benefits system, we need to be cognisant of that. I hope that that reassures Pam Duncan-Glancy that work is being undertaken at pace and that we are looking to make a difference for unpaid carers in Scotland as quickly as we can. Does Kate Thomson-McDermott want to come in with any further points on that, if I have not covered everything that should be said?

In the same item of business

The Convener SNP
Our main item of business consists of two evidence-taking sessions on the Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill. I put on record my thanks to everyone...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con) Con
Good morning to the panel. I hope that you can hear me. Does the doubling up of the money go far enough to help carers, particularly after the past 18 month...
Fiona Collie (National Carer Organisations)
It is important to say how much we welcome the proposal to double the carers allowance supplement. That is an important recognition of the huge contribution ...
Salena Begley (Family Fund)
The parent carers whom I spoke to welcomed the additional payment and its timing. Carers have additional costs throughout the year, but we know that winter a...
Colin Toal (Lanarkshire Carers)
The next tranche of money in December 2021 will be welcome, but it has been delayed for too long after the previous additional tranche. I am trying to reflec...
Jeremy Balfour Con
Thank you all for those answers. I will follow up with my final question. The doubling of the carers allowance supplement is not a permanent fixture, but do...
Fiona Collie
Yes. We heard from carers through the survey that they thought that the increase—the doubling of the carers allowance supplement—should be permanent. We woul...
Salena Begley
Given the demands on carers during the winter months—particularly over Christmas—the parent carers whom we support are likely to welcome the doubling being a...
Colin Toal
I agree with both speakers. Basically, in the situation of being an unpaid carer, the time horizon that you are looking to survive for runs from month to mon...
The Convener SNP
Thanks, Colin. That is very helpful. I also thank Jeremy Balfour. The next set of questions is from Pam Duncan-Glancy. 09:15
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab
I thank the organisations for their submissions, and the people whom they represent—unpaid carers across Scotland. They have done an incredible amount of wor...
The Convener SNP
We will go in reverse order this time and start with Colin, then move on to Salena and Fiona.
Colin Toal
The carers allowance is totally swallowed up by the costs of general care. I cared for my mother. The allowance was not for me but to provide help to get to ...
The Convener SNP
Thank you, Colin. That is good insight.
Salena Begley
Thank you for the question. I cannot comment specifically on what amount would be preferred or needed, but I know what the carers whom we spoke to told us. O...
Fiona Collie
I would definitely say that the amount is not sufficient. We have talked for many years about the low level of carers allowance. Although the supplement has ...
The Convener SNP
Do you have any more questions, Pam?
Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab
Yes—I have just one more. I thank the witnesses for their answers to my previous question. I really appreciated them. How many of the people with whom you w...
Colin Toal
I defer to the professionals on that.
Salena Begley
I am not sure of the exact proportion, but in our previous family survey in Scotland, 66 per cent of respondents were in receipt of carers allowance. Our mai...
Fiona Collie
We can probably come back with more data, but the allowance certainly does not touch all carers who experience poverty. We know some things. For example, we...
The Convener SNP
That would be very helpful—thank you.
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con
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 ...
Salena Begley
We know from our research on the impact of the pandemic on families of disabled children that there has been a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of...
Fiona Collie
The research that Carers Trust Scotland undertook with young carers and young adult carers reflects exactly what Salena Begley said. Young people are caring ...
Colin Toal
I said that I did not have anything to say in response to Pam Duncan-Glancy’s supplementary question. However, when I carried out my caring role, my difficul...
The Convener SNP
Lanarkshire Carers is based in my Airdrie and Shotts constituency and I can confirm that it does excellent work.
Salena Begley
I want to reflect briefly on the findings of our research. Almost nine in 10 families—87 per cent—reported that the pandemic had negatively impacted on their...
Miles Briggs Con
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 r...
Colin Toal
To be honest, during the 2019-20 period, the additional benefits of respite care did not come into my mind. My sole consideration was my mum and making her l...