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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 16 August 2025
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Displaying 885 contributions

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Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 20 June 2023

Kaukab Stewart

With that, we have come to the end of this session. The time has gone very quickly. This has been, in fact, the final live session for our inquiry, and I thank the minister and her officials for attending.

This morning, we heard from Baroness Helena Kennedy and, over the past few weeks, from a wide variety of stakeholders who are doing amazing work up and down the country. We have also heard from local authorities and Mears, and we have received many written testimonies.

We have also undertaken two sessions in private, when we went out into communities and spoke to asylum seekers and refugees to hear their voices directly. It was invaluable to see the person and not just talk about the issue in the abstract. We now face the challenge of putting all the evidence together and creating a report over the summer.

We asked the UK Government to take part in our inquiry, but unfortunately, no response was received from it. I would have liked to have said that our inquiry was comprehensive but, due to the lack of response from the UK Government, it is not. However, I feel that we have captured a wide range of voices across all the themes that concern asylum seekers and refugees.

On that note, I once again thank the minister and her officials for attending, and I draw to a close the public part of the meeting.

12:05 Meeting continued in private until 12:19.  

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 20 June 2023

Kaukab Stewart

That completes our consideration of the affirmative instrument. I thank the minister and her officials for attending.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 20 June 2023

Kaukab Stewart

What is it that you wish us to put on record?

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Meeting date: 20 June 2023

Kaukab Stewart

Welcome to the 15th meeting in 2023 of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Pam Gosal.

Under agenda item 1, do we agree to take in private item 6, which is consideration of the evidence that we will hear today?

Members indicated agreement.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 20 June 2023

Kaukab Stewart

I invite the committee to agree to delegate to me the publication of a short, factual report on our deliberations on the affirmative Scottish statutory instrument that we have considered today.

Members: indicated agreement.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 20 June 2023

Kaukab Stewart

In that case, and bearing in mind what Rachael Hamilton has said, are members content not to make any comment to Parliament on the instrument?

Members: indicated agreement.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 20 June 2023

Kaukab Stewart

I invite you to make a brief opening statement, which will be followed by questions from members of the committee.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 20 June 2023

Kaukab Stewart

I suspend the meeting for a short time while we change over to the second panel of witnesses.

11:01 Meeting suspended.  

11:04 On resuming—  

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Asylum Seekers in Scotland

Meeting date: 20 June 2023

Kaukab Stewart

I must intervene, as we are coming to the end of our session. I am sure that the minister will be more than happy to answer any further questions from the committee that are put in writing, and we will then have clarity with regard to phraseology and understanding. I am sure that you will be happy to do that, minister.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 30 May 2023

Kaukab Stewart

Thank you, cabinet secretary. No member of the committee has indicated that they wish to ask questions or make comments, so we will move straight to agenda item 3, which is formal consideration of the motion for approval of the affirmative instrument. I invite the minister to move motion S6M-08951.

Motion moved,

That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Forced Marriage etc. (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Act 2011 (Application to Civil Partnerships and Consequential Provision) Order 2023 [draft] be approved.—[Shirley-Anne Somerville]

Motion agreed to.