Siobhian Brown
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“However, because their grandparents were advised by the local authority to care for them under a section 11 order rather than a section 17(6) order, they are not eligible for the payment, as the minister pointed out. In my view, that is a technicality.”
“The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 state that, to be eligible for the care leaver payment, a young person must have been looked after under section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 on or after their 16th birthday, and they must also have left care or continuing care on or after 1 April 2026.”
“Young people who are subject to an order under section 11 of the 1995 act are not looked after for the purposes of section 17(6) and are therefore not eligible for the payment. Duncan Dunlop: I thank the minister for that clarification. I would like to raise a specific example.”
“More broadly, however, we have to recognise the vital role that kinship carers play in caring for children and young people. That is why, earlier this year, we published “Scotland’s vision for kinship care: our offer of support for families”, following the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026, and int…”
“My personal favourite— The Presiding Officer: This is great, but it is general question time, and we need questions. Kate Campbell: Sorry. It is for the children, Presiding Officer. Being less tired was another good reason.”
“Kate Campbell: Last week, I was at Sanderson’s Wynd primary school to speak to the primary 5s and 6s, who are doing a module on democracy and decision making. I got the notification that I had been selected to ask a general question just as I was heading off to the school.”
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“Last year, we were privileged to assist with the United Kingdom’s presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in a series of engagements, including at the Kelvingrove art gallery and museum in Glasgow, where the First Minister spoke about the importance of working together to tackle the growing threat of antisemitism. In recognition of the deep-seated nature of prejudicial attitudes, we are working in close collaboration with partners to prevent such behaviours from taking hold and undermining our commitment to community cohesiveness. Let me be clear that discrimination, including antisemitism, must be challenged through educating our children about all cultures, faiths and belief systems, and ensuring that they learn tolerance and respect.”
“In reflecting on the sheer inhumanity of those atrocities, we are reminded of this year’s theme, which encourages us to strive collectively for a better future, while challenging those who attempt to deny or trivialise the Holocaust or any genocide. The Scottish Government must lead by example and remain ever vigilant, so that the grave consequences of the past can never be repeated. In that spirit, I was proud to support the commencement of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 in April last year. Alongside our hate crime strategy, that will ensure that we take the robust measures that are the necessary response to criminality that is rooted in prejudice, and that we provide confidence that all incidents will be treated with the utmost seriousness.”
“That slow but precise process of dehumanisation would later culminate in one of the most heinous acts in human history, as the regime attempted to exterminate all Jewish people in Europe. The beginning of the Bosnian war in 1992 presented a chilling parallel, as non-Serbian citizens were first compelled to wear white armbands, setting in motion the infamous practice that would later come to be known as ethnic cleansing. The most monstrous example of such brutality was to occur in 1995, when the town of Srebrenica witnessed the genocidal massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces in one of the largest incidents of mass murder in Europe since world war two.”
“The horrors of the Holocaust are a stark reminder of the devastating consequences if prejudicial attitudes are not challenged and confronted, as my colleague Pauline McNeill eloquently set out. Despite all our political differences, it is deeply moving to witness members in the chamber being united in honouring peoples among whom lives were decimated by such terrible persecutions. This year’s commemoration is a seminal moment, as we mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. Following the Nazis’ ascent to power in 1933, they ramped up the antisemitic rhetoric prior to passing laws that gradually stripped Jewish citizens of their most basic human rights, including forcing them to wear yellow stars and singling them out for ever- worsening persecution.”
“Colleagues, that is why it is vital that we ensure that it never happens again. Another powerful contribution came from Ben Bland, the young person whom Paul O’Kane heard from in his constituency. In the darkness of today’s world, as it must appear to a lot of our youngsters, he has a really positive and hopeful view, which I found very inspirational and powerful to hear about. I echo the heartfelt words that have been offered by my fellow members in paying tribute to the 6 million Jewish people who were systematically murdered during the Holocaust, and the countless others who were killed by the Nazi regime, and the untold numbers of people whose lives were callously taken from them in the genocides that took place in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.”
“I wish to express my gratitude to Jackson Carlaw for today’s motion, and I sincerely thank everybody who has kindly taken the opportunity to commemorate Holocaust memorial day for their very powerful contributions. This is the second year in which I have responded to the debate, and I have to say that it is one of the most powerful, emotive, thought-provoking and grounding debates, because it highlights our vulnerability as humanity in what appears to be a volatile and sometimes very busy world. Everybody’s contribution tonight has been very valuable, but I want to give a minute to Jackson Carlaw, who always makes very powerful contributions. I know about his on-going commitment to highlighting the atrocities of the Holocaust. As he mentioned at the end of his speech, its few and frail survivors are disturbed by fears for the future.”
“I am happy to meet Maggie Chapman to discuss any constituent experiences that she wants to discuss or if she would like to provide input to the reform.”
“Will the minister outline any planned actions to increase the availability of legal aid provision in the north-east for parents who are separating, many of whom face issues with the safety and wellbeing of their children as well as themselves? Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government recognises that reform is needed in the legal aid system for legal aid to be responsive and user- centric and to work effectively in the delivery of agreed actions in the way that is expected of public services. In the short term, we have identified priority changes that we believe will impact positively on users and providers. Officials are currently developing a legal aid action plan for reform, and we will engage with that soon. I am aware that the Scottish Legal Aid Board is currently undertaking a geographical analysis of legal aid throughout Scotland.”
“Maggie Chapman: The Human Rights Consortium Scotland says: “Scotland faces a critical shortage of civil legal aid solicitors, which leaves countless individuals, particularly those in poverty, unable to get the legal representation they need to address injustices and uphold their rights.” Parents in urban and rural areas in the north- east are struggling to access advice following family breakdown, often as a result of domestic violence. A lack of legal aid provision leaves them and their children without support. Poverty, poor health and the loss of sustained and positive contact between children and parents are the results.”
“The 2025-26 draft Scottish budget outlines that we will invest almost £4.2 billion across the justice system, which is a 9.5 per cent increase on this year’s budget. We are committed to ensuring fairer access to justice, whereby individuals can be supported in criminal, civil and administrative law settings. Additional funding can be provided only if Opposition parties support the Scottish budget. It is welcome news that the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats got around the table for budget negotiations so that we can deliver for the people of Scotland. I urge the Scottish Labour Party and the Conservatives to work together with us to pass the budget and allow us to uphold the rule of law, safeguard rights and protect individuals and communities from harm, which is fundamental to the functioning state and to the people of Scotland.”
“It is increasing in frequency and the severity of violence is worsening. In recent months, I have received—almost weekly—very worrying correspondence from the communities that I serve. For example, in December, a mother and daughter were reportedly attacked by a gang in Leith and, just before Christmas, a boy was stabbed by a gang of youths elsewhere in Edinburgh. The issues around bonfire night are well known. A trend is emerging in Edinburgh and, unfortunately, it is happening elsewhere in Scotland, too.”
“As I said last year, in my constituency, I received correspondence about many very concerning instances of youth crime and antisocial behaviour, including people being threatened with weapons such as axes and knives; theft and robbery; unprovoked and sometimes very harmful assaults on other young people or passers-by; harassment of women, girls and vulnerable people; and dangerous driving of motorbikes, e- bikes, pushbikes and scooters, with people clipping pedestrians, stealing phones and generally causing alarm to pedestrians and drivers. All those things are usually done by people who are wearing menacing balaclavas and have a sense of being above the law. It is a very small minority of Scotland’s young people who engage in such criminality, but I worry that the problem is growing and is now very serious in Edinburgh.”
“As of 4 November, Police Scotland reached officer numbers of 16,600, with further intakes planned throughout this year. In 2025-26, we will increase police funding to £1.62 billion. In addition, the First Minister will host a cross-party youth violence summit next week, on Monday 13 January. Ben Macpherson: I thank the minister for her answer and welcome the initiatives that are under way, particularly the final one that she mentioned. First, I note that I raise these issues in the Parliament with no enthusiasm but feel that I must do so on behalf of those whom I represent.”
“I take this opportunity, Presiding Officer, to wish you and all members of the Scottish Parliament a happy new year. I was, of course, appalled to learn of the recent criminal incidents in Ben Macpherson’s constituency. I know that police are actively investigating to identify those who are responsible. The Scottish Government remains committed to preventing children from getting involved in offending behaviour and to taking action to stop any reoffending where they do get involved. We work with partners to deliver a range of activities. For example, we expanded the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit’s work and delivered knife crime prevention education to practitioners and young people across Scotland. I know that this is cold comfort to victims, but recorded crime is down 40 per cent since 2006-07.”