Seòmar agus comataidhean

In the public gallery, we are joined by teachers and pupils of Banff academy, who have been drafting their very own parliamentary bill to tackle misinformation and disinformation. Will the First Minister join me in welcoming them and congratulating them on their engagement with our democracy? Will he outline how young people are being included in the decision-making process for policies that affect the online space and digital landscape?

It is time for independence. Thank you very much.

As the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, the impact that Brexit has had on my rural constituency is clear to me.

I want to be clear that my speech has been crafted with the words and experiences of people in my constituency who have felt the effect on the ground in the here and now. That may be because of decisions that have been made in the past, but that is how time works. The impact is hurting people now, and it is right and proper that we discuss and talk about it—so that we know not only who we can trust, but what we can do about it, going forward.

For my constituents, the outcome of Brexit feels more painful and personal because Brexit was touted as the answer to all the fishing sector’s challenges. It is now more than eight years since our fishers were promised “a sea of opportunity”. They were assured that we would take back control of UK waters, enjoy increased quotas, see an economic revival in our coastal communities, benefit from reduced bureaucracy and gain enhanced export opportunities with global market access. It has been eight years, and there have been countless promises, yet Brexit has delivered none of them. If anything, our fishing industry continues to catch and process our food and sustain coastal communities despite Brexit, not because of it. It is the hard-working people in the industry who have kept things going and delivered results by themselves.

Thank you. That concludes our formal business in public. [Interruption.] I apologise—I have an indication that Tess White would like to come in.

As no member has any further questions, we draw our public session to a close. I thank the minister and her officials for attending. We move into private session to discuss the final agenda items.

We move on to questions from Tess White.

Good morning, and welcome to the 23rd meeting in 2024 of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received no apologies today.

Our only agenda item to be taken in public this morning is a continuation of our evidence taking for our pre-budget scrutiny 2025-26, and I refer members to papers 1 and 2. I welcome to the meeting Kaukab Stewart, Minister for Equalities, who is accompanied by Nick Bland, deputy director, mainstreaming and inclusion; and Matt Elsby, deputy director, fiscal policy and constitution, Scottish Government. Thank you for coming along this morning.

I invite the minister to make an opening statement before we move to questions from committee members.

Thank you, minister. I appreciate that opening statement.

You touched on your previous role as convener of the committee and your experience in scrutinising budgets. How have you taken that into your role as a minister when it comes to mainstreaming and participation?

Before I begin, I want to take a moment to recognise the work of my colleague Stephanie Callaghan MSP on the issue and to thank her for the opportunity to lead this debate.

I also wish to congratulate One Parent Families Scotland on an extraordinary milestone—80 years of dedicated service to single-parent families. This anniversary not only marks the longevity of a vital charity but is a celebration of its unwavering commitment to empowering single parents to realise their full potential.

As we gather to commend the organisation for the incredible work that it has done, I will reflect on the realities that are faced by so many single parents across our nation. For many of us—me included—this is not just a policy discussion: it is personal. I know at first hand the struggles that come with raising a family on your own. I have lived the long nights when I finally tuck the children in to bed, which is when the day’s tasks actually begin. There is no passing of the baton and there is no partner to lean on when the weight of it all becomes too much. We are juggling bedtime stories and bills, school pick-ups and work commitments, and the burden is never shared. It is from that place of experience and empathy that I speak today. I have been that parent in the quiet home where exhaustion can sit heavy but the to-do list never seems to end. I know the anxiety that can grip you when an unexpected expense comes up or when you think about how you will manage tomorrow’s demands.

The truth is that single parents wear many hats and they wear them all at once—sole provider, caretaker, chef, taxi driver, financial planner and so much more. For that, they deserve our deepest admiration, not judgment or stigma. One Parent Families Scotland has dedicated 80 years to breaking down that stigma and to creating more understanding and a compassionate society. From its early days as the Scottish Council for the Unmarried Mother and Her Child, which was founded to keep mothers and their children together, to its modern incarnation offering a wide range of life-changing services, the charity has remained a lifeline for so many, whether through its family centres in Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow and North Lanarkshire or through its national lone parent helpline and digital services. It provides essential support that empowers parents and uplifts families.

The impact of that support cannot be overstated. The charity employs 97 dedicated staff members, who give their all to ensure that more than 8,000 parents, children and young people are supported each year. Nearly 4,000 families have received vital advice on welfare rights and financial matters, collectively benefiting from financial gains exceeding £1.6 million. It is transformative work, and it enables single parents to breathe a little easier and to focus more on their children and less on the stress of making ends meet.

However, we know that, for every success story, there are thousands of parents who are still struggling. One in four families with children in Scotland is a single-parent household, with a staggering 90 per cent of those familes being led by women. Gender inequality remains a persistent force that compounds the challenges that those families face. Society has made progress since the 1940s—thank goodness—but we must recognise that the burden and shame that single parents, particularly single mothers, continue to bear is deeply rooted in outdated societal attitudes.

Let us talk about that stigma. Too often, single parents are met with judgment instead of support. Society can be harsh, and some perceptions make an already difficult path even more isolating. The shame that is placed on single parents and the misconceptions about them are unfair and unfounded. They are warriors who are deserving of our respect and practical support, not whispered assumptions about their worth.

The work of One Parent Families Scotland is crucial not just because it offers practical support, but because it does so with compassion and understanding of the reality that single parents face. It acts as a tireless advocate that is pushing for systemic changes to end the widespread poverty that so many experience. Its services are not only practical, but life affirming, helping parents to find employment, supporting young parents and providing the guidance that is needed to navigate complex welfare systems.

For those who have never experienced this struggle, it might be easy to underestimate the sheer strength that it takes to do what some single parents do every day. It is not just about surviving; it is about thriving for the children’s sake. They create homes that are filled with love, opportunity and security, often despite overwhelming odds.

The charity’s legacy is built on the resilience and strength of the families that it serves. Almost a quarter of households are single-parent families, and One Parent Families Scotland’s support has been there every step of the way, advocating at every level of government to create lasting solutions to poverty. That advocacy, combined with tangible support, has empowered countless parents to move from crisis to stability.

I take my hat off to every single parent. I see them. I know about the sacrifices, the relentless hard work and the sleepless nights. They deserve our praise and unyielding support. They deserve a society that lifts them up instead of trying to pull them down.

I extend my deepest gratitude to One Parent Families Scotland for an incredible 80 years of service. I thank it for its advocacy, for its compassion and for ensuring that single parents are never alone in their journey. Let us honour this anniversary not just with words of congratulations, but with continued action and commitment to creating a Scotland that truly supports all families.

Significant improvements have been made to road infrastructure in the north-east since 2007 and upgrades to the A96 are an important next step. Will the cabinet secretary set out some examples of how Scottish Government investment has improved connectivity across the north-east?