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Thank you. I acknowledge the member’s point, but the point that I am trying to make is that it is about the wider role of local government in supporting its communities. There is an acceptance that the current Administration does not value the role of local government as much as we would all like it to. We must do better on that front.

I wish to pay tribute to East Ayrshire Labour councillors, who were able to secure key concessions in this year’s budget for the people of East Ayrshire. They secured increased investment in tackling antisocial behaviour in order to make our town centres safer; they ensured that resources would be given to tidying our streets and removing vandalism in order to make our town centres cleaner; and they worked to keep key amenities, such as public toilets, open, in order to make our town centres more accessible.

The Labour councillors put forward those key amendments because they are areas in which our communities and constituents wish to see better work done, which would help to improve our local communities and town centres. I pay tribute to Labour councillors because it is Labour in local government that is trying to find ways to deliver for our communities, despite the challenges that are laid before it in relation to local government funding.

It is important that I, like my colleague Colin Smyth, speak a bit about town centre housing. We have to make town centre living an attractive prospect. I look to Labour-run North Lanarkshire, where buildings such as unused churches are now being renovated by councils and housing associations to create state-of-the-art modern and accessible homes. The council is using the powers that it has to the best of its ability. Crucially, those homes are being built in close proximity to retail, health services and transport hubs. They are being provided at an affordable rate as council housing, but some key components of the previous use are being kept to ensure that there remains familiarity for local people.

In order to meet our vision for town centres, we have to speak proudly not only about council house living but about town centre council house living, supplemented by key amenities and resources that will bring life back to towns across our country.

We must have a user-centred approach, but we must also look to do all that we can to ensure that that approach acts to the benefit of small businesses, the low-paid worker and the local community. The observations made in the report in that regard are of significant concern, particularly in that many local businesses just do not know where to look for support. We must focus all our efforts on ensuring that there is a diverse range of options available to town centre users, but we must also reaffirm the benefits for small businesses in the future.

I note the importance of the report and thank the committee for bringing the debate to the chamber. We have a long way to go to realise the vision of our town plans. However, in getting there, we must ensure that people, residents and small businesses are at the centre, and that all are supported by strong funding for local councils to deliver on those key areas of work.

How can the Government justify leaving Midlothian Council—the council area in Scotland with the fastest-growing population of people, many of whom are families who are struggling with the serious increases in the cost of living—with a budget shortfall of nearly £14 million? How does the cabinet secretary imagine that, with that burden, that council and many others like it will be able to meet wider anti-poverty targets?

I begin by expressing my sincere condolences to, and solidarity with, the families of all those who have died or have been gravely injured in this senseless war. Most of us in the chamber are fortunate enough to have never had to experience such brutality and horror, so anything that I describe can come only from a position of utmost respect for what those people have been through.

No one should have to witness those atrocities or lose loved ones in the prime of their life, many of whom, I am afraid to say, are children. I cannot imagine the horrors of being a parent or grandparent when the bombs are raining down from above. It is truly despicable and we must find a resolution that ends the conflict as soon as possible.

Like many others, I had hoped that the days of all-out war in Europe were behind us. That was a naive hope, perhaps, and one that we now might not realise for generations to come. However, my hopes are not reality, and people who are in desperate need are asking for our help. I cannot cower from that responsibility and turn my back. After all, the freedom of our country was in part secured due to the assistance of others, many of whom laid down their lives to protect us. Ukraine is simply asking for resources and assistance. We have the moral duty to respond.

We must not forget that there were far too many who were complacent about the threat presented by Russia’s invasion of the Crimean peninsula back in 2014, believing that it would be limited and contained, that it would never cause us any problems and that, perhaps most hopefully, it would not lead to further bloodshed. Sadly, and perhaps inevitably, that has not been the case, and we cannot imagine that Russia will stop now. That would go against the most common sense.

We have learned a lot since 2014 about the intentions of Putin and those who support him. Unfortunately, at times, the UK and its allies have allowed themselves to be outmanoeuvred by him, perhaps as a consequence of our having a Prime Minister too often obsessed with goings-on at Downing Street or in their own party. The point is that we cannot allow that to happen again.

I have long opposed foreign intervention and the march to war. Whether it be in Iraq or Afghanistan, illegal and knee-jerk wars must be opposed when launched from home or elsewhere. It is clear that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine meets that criterion, and that is why I stand with the Ukrainians in their fight against tyranny.

Trade unionists and charities across Ukraine are often the best sources of reasoned opinion in any debate. They have called for us to assist those fighting Russia on the front line, and I believe that we must commit ourselves to doing so. I cannot pretend to be a military expert by any means, but if those on the ground are so clearly telling us that they need particular equipment in order to protect towns, villages, and cities from attack, we must take that seriously and heed their call.

We must also continue to offer asylum and assistance to those fleeing from the war and offer a stable and nourishing home for those who are already here. There are many Ukrainian refugees in my region and across Scotland who could not have imagined only a year ago that they would end up somewhere such as Dalmellington or Kilmarnock. But they are here, and they have been welcomed, and I hope that they can build a life here for as long as they wish to.

I can barely begin to imagine what it must have been like for them or the worries that they must have had day after day. They must continue to be a primary focus for the Scottish Parliament during a time when far too many other issues are dominating the headlines that, frankly, if we think about it, are of little importance in comparison.

I commend the motion and thank Neil Gray for bringing it to the Parliament. I offer my full support and am committed to supporting the people of Ukraine. Their fight is our fight. We must strive for peace, and we cannot achieve that by allowing Ukraine to fall into the hands of a dictator such as Putin.

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on its on-going targets to tackle child poverty of any reduction in local government funding. (S6O-01921)

It was just if you had one or two things that you would like us to put forward as ideas to change the system at that very first bit.

I am quite supportive of the general principles of the petition about decriminalising abortion. In a modern society, it seems right that the Abortion Act 1967 should be updated. I would be interested to know why the Government says that it is supportive of that but has not set out any plans to do it. Can we explore that?

I know that there is medical support behind changing the law, so it would be interesting to ensure that we have all that information. I would like us to take the petition forward.

I support that. If the athletics associations are already looking into the issue, bringing the evidence to the committee would be very worth while.

Thank you, Stephanie. I really appreciate you coming along and sharing your story with us.

I am interested in two things. First, could you tell me a wee bit about your experience of the postcode lottery that you felt? It stands out in your statement. Have you made contact with any other families that have had the same experience?

Okay. Thanks for explaining that a wee bit. I appreciate you doing that.

If there were one, two or three steps that you thought would be important for us to discuss as change, what would those be?

We will all be aware that there has been significant debate and discussion on violence against women and girls in Parliament. Do we have any information about whether any of the other committees have done any work around education, either in the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee or the Education, Children and Young People Committee? If so, it would be interesting to look at that evidence.