Seòmar agus comataidhean

I think that you did a wonderful job—thank you.

I asked the first panel a specific question about the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce new human rights law based on four international human rights treaties. I mentioned you, Dr Tickell, as you have flagged up a concern that that might cause difficulties similar to those that we have seen with the UNCRC bill. I will ask you what I asked the previous witnesses: what warnings or advice can you give the Scottish Government, the Parliament and duty bearers as we move forward with the legislation?

I really appreciate that, convener. I have been sitting here, thinking about what questions to ask, but instead I feel the need to come in and answer quite a lot of the questions, given that I sat on the board for the audit.

I thank Evelyn Tweed for the shout out. I would like to make the point that it is possible to have cultural change, but we need to lead by example as a Parliament and enforcing some rules helps to shift cultural change in the direction that it needs to go in. When I was a potential candidate and was going through the selection process, I was asked several times how I would juggle my home life and my caring responsibilities. Given that it was an all-female shortlist, there were no men to be asked the same question, but I could see that, in other areas, men were never asked it.

I was also told by several people that my lived experience—my experience of being a single parent with a few children with additional support needs and of being an interpreter for my deaf father—endeared them to the idea of wanting to vote for me to be a candidate. They thought that it was fantastic life experience to bring to the role. At the same time, however, that was juxtaposed with their concern that it might hinder me, time-wise, in that role.

We have to look deeply and see the internal biases that there still are with regard to how we feel women can perform in roles. We should always bear that in mind—and not only with regard to women. Taking an intersectional approach is incredibly important. We should always have the issue at the forefront of our minds, and it is extremely important that we have—and keep active—those conversations within our parties.

Thank you for your time, convener.

Good morning, minister. My question is in two parts. First—you have probably touched on this already—does the Scottish Government agree that there is a need for greater traceability and oversight of the selling of puppies in general?

That is helpful. Is there anything in the bill to tackle the traceability issues and provide oversight of the puppy trade? If not, what is already in the toolbox?

That is helpful. Thank you.

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the First Minister that it will more than double investment in Scotland’s arts and culture over the next five years, how it is ensuring that rural communities benefit from current and future cultural investment. (S6O-02617)

I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement and for paying tribute to the people who went above and beyond during the storms.

As a representative of the north-east, I know the harsh impact that extreme weather events such as Babet have on the energy and food security of rural communities. With each extreme weather event, we often see delayed deliveries of goods and empty supermarket shelves. Will the Scottish Government commit to ensuring that the energy and food security of rural communities such as Banffshire and Buchan Coast are built into future resilience plans, so that power cuts are minimised and shelves are restocked in good time?

If I may boast a little bit, the north-east has some of Scotland’s most extraordinary cultural talents, and artists across Banffshire and Buchan Coast are putting my constituency on that cultural map. For two decades, organisations such as North East Open Studios have been ensuring that the work of artists in my constituency and the wider north-east is reaching communities locally, across Scotland and beyond.

With that example in mind, what is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that rural and remote artists get the recognition and support that they so thoroughly deserve?

Good morning, minister. I have two questions. First, I want to ask a question on behalf of Afam, and my second question is based on stakeholder evidence.

Earlier, I asked Afam whether there was anything I should bear in mind when asking his question. His answer was quite poignant; I am sure that he will correct me if I get this wrong, but he said that when we talk about “communities”, communities themselves often experience that word as othering or see it as something at a distance from the person who is doing the engagement with the community. He said that we should keep in mind that we are all one community and that communities equal diversity within the community of the whole human race.

This is Afam’s question:

“The panel feels very positively about the opportunity it has had to participate in the Budget process and would like to see more of this work being done, especially by the Scottish Government. How does the Minister connect directly with communities, and how will she work with colleagues to make sure that there are more participation opportunities across portfolios, including policy education, awareness raising of engagement opportunities, and feedback on the outcomes of engagement?”