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My Ukrainian friend Andre has been constantly in my thoughts since the conflict there escalated in 2022, and I will take some time to share his story, because it really captures much of what the war means on a human level.

I met Andre almost 20 years ago when he was barely out of his teens. He had an infectious humour and, despite being far from home, he became part of my family. He would join us for meals, fitting right into the chaos of all the children running around, and every meal came with his hilarious observations of life. He used to call me his Scottish mama and, although I was actually only a few years older than him, I embraced that title because it was an honour to be a stand-in family for him when he needed that most.

Even now, amid the horrors of war back in his homeland, Andre never forgets to send me a birthday message. It always feels surreal to hear from someone who is living in a war zone—someone who sends me well wishes from a place where every day is a fight for survival. He lives in one of the hardest-hit regions in Ukraine and vlogs about his experience, sharing the unimaginable through his Instagram stories. Some nights he captures the whistles of the missiles going through the air before they hit the ground with a thunderous explosion. It is harrowing to witness the conflict unfold through my friend’s eyes. There are nights when we do not know whether we will hear from him again the next day but, each day when he appears, it brings a sigh of relief.

Before the war, Andre had his own grocery delivery service. As time went on, it evolved into a saving grace for many people. He now delivers food and parcels to those who are in need, supported by donations worldwide. He takes food parcels to some of the hungriest people in his war-torn land. In the past year, I have seen him delivering food to elderly folk in an abandoned care home, to terrified women and children in underground train stations and to some of the most vulnerable groups in the most dangerous situations.

Andre’s humour and warmth have never left him. He gifts flowers to elderly women. He calls one of them his babushka and she lives for his visits. Only a few months ago, Andre lost his dog—his loyal companion—and, days later, his mother. Still, he pushes forward. He does so not for himself but for the people who rely on him and his service. That is the spirit of Ukraine—a resilience that refuses to be extinguished by war—and it is the spirit that Scotland proudly stands with.

Scotland has always been a welcoming place for those who are fleeing war and persecution. Last year, I met a Ukrainian family that my father had befriended. Vadim, his wife and his two daughters are all profoundly deaf. They uprooted their life because of the war and drove all the way to Scotland. Although my dad and Vadim were from two different countries, their language barrier was broken due to the power of sign language.

We spent time last year socialising, and the young girls loved jumping on the trampoline with my two granddaughters. It was a joy to see those children feeling carefree after what they had been through. I even took Vadim to the Buckie car show, and he was treated to a proper north-east fish supper. I might add that it was fish straight from the boat—it is only the best up in the north-east. Throughout that time, we knew that, deep down, their homeland and their people were never far from their minds.

Those connections are a powerful reminder that, throughout the chaos of war, the coming together of humans in genuine ways can transcend the barriers of conflict. Whether we are bound by language, humour or simply being a stand-in family member, I am proud to stand with Ukraine.

Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, Scotland has opened its arms to the people who are fleeing war and persecution. More than 27,000 displaced Ukrainians have found refuge here. That is the highest figure per capita of any UK nation. Our warm Scots welcome has been more than just a phrase: it is a promise.

We have welcomed those individuals not just for a brief stay but with a commitment to support them as they rebuild their lives. However, as we continue to offer refuge to those who are fleeing war, we must also recognise the need for stability. Many Ukrainians are beginning to rebuild their lives in Scotland, finding work, enrolling their children in school and contributing to the fabric of our communities, but we need to ensure that they have the resources and the support to feel truly at home for as long as they need to.

Andre’s story and the stories of people such as Vadim and his family remind us that war strips away the trivialities of life and leaves us with what truly matters, which is human connection, resilience and compassion. This is the kind of nation that we are: one that steps up in times of need and offers refuge not just for today but for as long as it is needed—until peace is restored and Ukraine’s sovereignty is fully respected.

As I reflect on Andre’s resilience, on the courage of Vadim and his family and on all the Ukrainians who now call Scotland home, I am filled with pride. Their stories are a part of our story now, and their fight for survival is our fight for justice and peace. Scotland stands with Ukraine, today and always. Slava Ukraini!

I thank all the witnesses for coming. That brings our public session to a close.

Thank you very much. We move on to the opening statement from Patrick McGuire, please.

Thank you all for your opening statements. We move on to questions from the committee and I will ask the first question. You have all touched on the issue briefly and this gives us a chance to get into it in a bit more depth. What impact do you think the fee rises will have on those who are not covered by exemptions?

The second item on our agenda is an evidence session on the proposal by the Scottish Government to increase civil court fees from 1 November 2024. I refer members to papers 1 and 2.

I welcome to the meeting our witnesses: Hyo Eun Shin, a senior policy officer at Citizens Advice Scotland, is joining us remotely; Aaliya Seyal is chief executive at the Legal Services Agency Ltd and Rachel Walker is a partner and head of the mental health department at the Legal Services Agency; Julie Hamilton is a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s civil justice committee; and Patrick McGuire is an equity partner at Thompsons Solicitors Scotland. Good morning to you all. Thank you very much.

I invite everybody to give us an opening statement, starting with Hyo Eun Shin, please.

I have a question to round up. In this meeting, we have been specifically discussing the increase in fees, but I recognise that a lot of what we have been talking about relates to the criteria for exemptions and to the system as a whole. We have heard that some people are opposed to fees altogether, not just to the increase. In the current financial environment, tough budgetary decisions must be made. If the fees do not rise, there could be an extra burden on taxpayers and on the public purse, and there could be an impact on access to justice throughout the whole court system. If you felt that access to the system and the criteria for exemptions were adequate, would you still be opposed to the fees being raised?

Thank you very much. We move to Aaliya Seyal, please.

Thank you very much. We move to Julie Hamilton, please.

Good morning and welcome to the 19th meeting of 2024 in session 6 of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Meghan Gallacher and Paul O’Kane. Our first agenda item is to agree to take item 3, which is consideration of today’s evidence, in private. Are we agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

In my constituency, we are seriously struggling to attract and retain teachers. The Scottish Government’s incentives to encourage newly qualified staff to take up posts in rural areas are having limited success there. Parent councils in Aberdeenshire are calling for a summit to address the issue. Will the cabinet secretary please meet me and the parents who are concerned about the situation to discuss it further?