 The final item of business today is a member's business debate on motion number 218 in the name of James Dornan on celebrating Glasgow's third sector. This debate will be concluded without any questions being put. Would those members who wish to speak in the debate please press the request-to-speak buttons now? I call on James Dornan to open the debate. The timing of the debate could not be better, given that it is both carers week and volunteers week. I am sure that some of my colleagues will take this opportunity to praise the great work that is being done by both carers and volunteers throughout their constituency. I will come back to the work that is being done by some of the third sector organisations in my constituency later. Did you know that the third sector employs 5 per cent of Scotland's workforce and includes around 1.2 million adult volunteers, provides over a third of all registered social care services, includes over 3,000 organisations working in healthcare and nearly 20,000 in social care and development, all of which highlights the importance of the sector in making sure that Scotland becomes a healthier place? There are around 24,000 registered charities, 20,000 grassroots community groups, sports and arts clubs, over 3,500 social enterprises, 432 community interest companies—that is very specific—and 107 credit unions throughout Scotland. A vast number of those serve and operate throughout the city of Glasgow. In Glasgow alone, there are over 2,000 voluntary organisations, social enterprises and community groups operating. The sector contributes over £1 billion to Glasgow's economy each year, employs more than 28,000 people and supports 95,000 volunteers. Third sector organisations and volunteers are often the backbone of many local communities and are a foundation of support to those who live there. It would be difficult for me to name every organisation in my constituency, and all of them are worth recognition. In order for me to highlight the impact that third sector work has, allow me to touch on just a few. Glasgow South East carers are an organisation that provides mentoring, peer group support and a social network. They provide education, resources, training and, at the most basic and maybe important level, friendship. Carers UK highlighted in their last report the impact of caring. One in three carers has seen a drop in their income of £20,000 or more, that they have had to cut back on heating or eating, and subsequently the health of many carers suffer as a result of money worries. However, the financial implications of caring are only the tip of the iceberg. Over and over reports and studies have shown that many carers themselves suffer from both poor physical and mental health. The physical toll of caring, the mental worry of making ends meet while ensuring the needs, often of a loved one, are met, resulting, as mentioned by the minister in the previous debate, in isolation. Carers UK reports that 75 per cent of carers said that it was hard to maintain relationships and social networks because people do not understand the impact that caring has. Within the caring community, there are specific groups that many charities highlight as being an increased risk of this demoralising isolation. Young carers are more likely to experience mental health issues and bullying to that of someone of a comparative age. One of my first duties as an elected member, way back in 2007-2008, was to attend a Glasgow south-east carers event where I heard from myself the gruelling tale of a young girl who had been a carer from the age of nine. That had a huge impact both educationally and socially on her life, but thanks to the intervention of the south-east carers, the support was put in place that enabled her to discuss with her teachers honestly and openly for the first time her situation. Since then, she progressed to become the fine young woman that I saw in front of me that day. Carers and specifically young carers feel that they are misunderstood and detached. We have a responsibility to ensure that this bridge is built and that social inclusion is seen as a high priority, not just by carers organisations but by the wider society. It is why I am pleased to see the steps that the Scottish Government is taking to help carers and particularly young carers. Of course, the third sector in Glasgow is to be praised not only for its outstanding local work but for its contributions beyond the city limits. Take, for example, its response to many recent international disasters. The current humanitarian refugee crisis sweeping Europe has prompted a massive response from many Glasgow charities. Glasgow, the caring city, is a charity that I know well and supports people both at home and overseas by the means of promoting health, education and security. I had the good fortune of visiting Serbia with them earlier this year to meet Syrian refugees to see where all the clothes, the soap and all the other items that had been gathered from the people of Glasgow to the caring city to see how it was distributed when it reached Serbia for the refugees coming through from Syria. It was both a pleasure and harrowing but an honour to be there and to see the good deeds that the people of Glasgow have done and the outcome that it had done. A few years ago, I visited Uganda and South Sudan and saw again the work that the caring city was doing for the child soldiers who will remember the child soldiers at that part of the world and the fact that many young children were left as orphans. We visited orphanages, primary schools, nurseries, etc. To see the way that those people who had been in the most traumatic circumstances but with a wee bit of care and love and attention were starting to become good citizens in their own country was certainly well worth seeing. However, amazingly, after I have just highlighted the great work that has been done by the third sector in Glasgow, it appears that instead of support that our obstacles have been placed in their way, Glasgow, the caring city, finds that they may even be forced out of my constituency after having been there for 17 years. That is due to a rent increase from £1 a year of peppercorn rent to a market rent of £4,000 a year by city property. I certainly will. I recognise absolutely the work of the Glasgow, the caring city. However, there was cross-party agreement to shift from a process of peppercorn rents for charities to sustaining them through the integrated grant fund. That was something that was reported across-party. This is now perhaps something that has been worked through in the consequence for individual charities. I do not recognise anything that suggests that a charity should be going from playing a peppercorn rent to paying £4,000 a year because the Glasgow City Council took out a mortgage for £240 million to pay redundancies and to pay for early retirements. I do not think that that is the justifiable use of Glasgow city property. That was a monster that was created to do exactly that. We have gone from a community ethos that we used to have in Glasgow about if there were empty properties, we could use them for community benefit until such times as they were required. When city property came into being, they were told to squeeze every single penny out the tenants to pay back that rent. It is in their remit that they have to maximise income. It does not say anything about social welfare, it says maximise income. That is where I think that Glasgow City Council has got to look at themselves and where I think that city property should be looking at completely the reasons for their existence. I would like to finish off by talking about the elderly. The Scottish population is ageing and by 2035, as expected, the population of over 65 will increase from 17 to 25 per cent. While the age of people at which people retire seems to be ever increasing, many reports suggest that the need for post-work support will be greater. The senior centre in Casimal just received the Queen's Award for their services to the elderly community. The centre promotes independent healthy living, community engagement and, possibly, and most importantly, social interaction. We, as a society, should neglect the wisdom and experience of our elderly at a peril. On my many visits, their stories remind me of the difference that their contributions have made to my constituency and wider Scotland. That would not be available without the hard work commitment and support from the massive crew of volunteers. For that, we should be eternally grateful. First of all, I would like to take the opportunity to echo the sentiments that James Dornan has said regarding the excellent work that the third sector organisations do in Glasgow. In my maiden speech, I laid out how I wish to see more being done to encourage and provide support for organisations like Glasgow, the caring city, and how we should encourage people from all walks of life to get involved in making their communities a better place. Glasgow, the caring city stands out because it represents the sense of pride that us Glaswegians have in our city, our feeling of duty when it comes to helping others, and more importantly, our knack of simply getting things done. The charity concentrates on grassroot solutions, centred on health, education and security, recognising how they interplay with one another in society in order to create real opportunities for young people to try something different and escape what might seem otherwise like an inevitable path. Take the give a kid a goal project, for example, the Glasgow caring city project that focuses on pupils and schools at an early age to think more closely about issues that are important to them. It encourages them to achieve their own ambitions, seek out to help other children in developing nations as well as those in their own communities. It encourages children to strive for themselves and, most importantly, for others. That is the kind of initiative that we need. Another example that we see from Glasgow, the caring city is the SOFA cycle initiative, which involves unwanted furniture across the city being redistributed to those in need. Those are common sense solutions that, in theory, are simple but, in reality, need a dedicated team of grafters willing to give up their time to work in their communities. The third sector, as we all know, does not stop there. I was recently contacted by Marie Curie, a charity that specialised in caring for patients with terminal illness in their families. The Marie Curie hospice is in my hometown of Springburn. Last year alone and this year, it saw nearly 500 new patient admissions and it boasts a volunteer group of nearly 400 impressive figures indeed. Another organisation that I would like to mention is possibilities for each and every kid. Otherwise on is the peak project. This summer, I will be rolling from Glasgow to Paris, only in my age—I am not physically doing it—for a charity again that uses initiatives to change the lives of young people and children in the north and east of the city. The peak project hosts theatre groups, art groups and even blogging groups to name a few to increase the confidence and self-esteem of our young people. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the current celebrations taking place up and down the country as part of Volunteers Week. Latest figures show us that 27 per cent of Scottish adults have carried out unpaid voluntary work in the past 10 months. 75 per cent of them have done so for more than 10 hours a week. That is fantastic figures and it makes me proud to be a Scot. What those organisations serve to highlight is that, with the involvement of Glasgow citizens in their own communities, positive solutions to those issues can be found within the city itself. Although action cannot be taken overnight to eradicate all the city's problems, the hard work and determination of others has shown what a significant difference that can make. I welcome John's James's motion. I welcome the minister to his new role. I am sure that he will enjoy it immensely and I am sure that we will enjoy his contributions immensely also. I congratulate my colleague James Doar on securing this debate. I begin by thanking all the third sector and all the volunteers who are all ages from all sectors of society. Without them, many organisations simply could not continue to deliver or even survive in certain aspects. Like James and others, I want to mention a number of organisations in my Kelvin constituency who carry out the most amazing work from volunteering in charity shops. People seem to forget that many people give up all their time for volunteer front-line staff in charity shops. I can assure you that I have been in many charity shops where I have had really big bulky items and had to carry them in. There is lots and lots of work being done by amazing folk there in the charity shops, delivering meals, going for shopping for our elder and most vulnerable and ensuring that their presence is felt in the communities that they serve. One of the ones that I have got a great deal of time for all of them is Goppa, Glasgow People's Welfare Association, based in my constituency in Sandiford, who have the most amazing staff and do the most amazing things. They bring older people together and ensure that they get meals and that they have company. Unfortunately, due to charges from Glasgow City Council, that has been cut back slightly. We hope that through various other services we will be able to get that all back again, but they do a fantastic job at the Glasgow People's Welfare Association. Partick Health Living Centre does amazing work also. I have joined it on what they call healthy walks. I must admit that some of the older people put me to shame on that. You put in your pound and you can have a walk around the Kelvin Walkway, as far as Maryhill, all the way up to Townhead. They do lots of outreach work in Townhead and Anderson as well as the partick area, too. They have been going for many years, and Julie Fox and her staff are absolutely great people. The Woodlands Community Garden Trust is another fantastic aspect of people power, taking over a piece of derelict land in Woodlands at Princes Street. Basically, the first time I ever tasted what they call mustard lettuce, I had never tasted that before. Absolutely fantastic, but apparently it was pretty native to Scotland because it grows in damp ground and they grow it there. They open up the gardens to the community, to the schools, to the nurseries, and people volunteer there. They have started volunteer cooking for healthy cooking and ensuring that people know about zero waste. That is taken out of the Fred Patent Centre in Woodlands, where the Glasgow People's Welfare Association also worked out of two. Last Monday, they had a meal cooked for the asylum seekers who were all invited there and the volunteers served cooked and served that up. The Woodlands Community Garden Trust does a wonderful job as well. The Flourish House is a mental health service, an absolutely fantastic service. The mentor is very much to have a board, but for each board person, there is a member who is using Flourish House on the board, so it is very equal in that respect. They put people into employment training as well. Flourish House is something that I encourage anyone in the Glasgow area to visit a wonderful place. I have already asked the minister if he will go along and visit that. One of the other areas that came to my surgery last night is the African Caribbean Centre, which is in my constituency. It works to promote and work with the African Caribbean Society in Glasgow. It must say that there is a number of well over 1,000 from the African Caribbean network in the Glasgow city limits as well. When you think of the historical links between that, it is something that we need to work at, but I must say that I have to raise again city property. We are now having to vacate their premises because of a rent rise, and I see them over my time. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Johann Lamont, to be followed by David Torrance. Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am delighted to be able to participate in this debate. I congratulate James Dornan on securing this debate and securing cross-party support for it. I was delighted to support the motion and to recognise in particular the work of Glasgow, the Clearing City and the organisation with which I have had a huge number or a great deal of contact in the past, not least because of the energy of its founder, Neil Gilbrath, who had a capacity to draw in people from all sides—whatever political colour—to focus on the work that he was so passionate about. I want to recognise the role of the third sector across Scotland. It has been my privilege since being elected to this Parliament to be able to work with some of the most dedicated and committed people, whether in Glasgow Pollock or more broadly in Glasgow itself, but of course across Scotland, whether it is in sport and housing, in voluntary health, whether it is dealing with issues around learning disability, credit unions, women's organisation determined to support women fleeing violence, whether it is home start, understanding the challenges facing some families. We meet people at every turn who are doing things simply because they need to be done, not because it is to give them credit, but they recognise a need and we should celebrate that thing that tells us that our society is not broken, but indeed it is a society where people desperately want to support the people around about them. I am proud of the record of my own party in this regard, both at a local government level and at a Scottish level. One question that I would ask the minister is where we are now with the notion of the compact between the third sector and the Scottish Government and to revitalise the idea of the compact with local government, because those were agreements that said that there is a parity of esteem here. It is not about us passing on challenges from within our communities, but how we work together to make sure that there is sustainable funding and that you are able as a third sector to do what you do best. We know that the third sector not only does the practical delivery but raises critical issues, shapes the thinking of those who have the money and resources, and then critically are part of delivering on that. We would never have done the work that we did in financial inclusion without looking to what the credit unions were asking for. That is simply one example. I know that the approach and recognition of the third sector has been continued by our colleagues in the SNP who, when they came to power. All I would ask is that, no matter what we think of the individual decisions that we have made in individual places, we respect that across party, both at Scottish and local government levels, there is a commitment to the power of the third sector. Of course, it is not just for the tough times, but it is central to understanding and meeting need. Women's aid was not simply about finding a place for women to go. Women's aid understood and described to us what violence against women was and what support women needed. It was not simply about bricks and mortar. We now have to recognise that there are groups and organisations that are under massive pressure. I know that one organisation delivering care within my own city who will have £100,000 shortfall because they are having to meet new conditions imposed by Europe in relation to sleepovers, but also because of the new national minimum wage. That is not what John Swinney described as minimum impact. There is a huge consequence about resources for those really important organisations. While we agree across the board with the importance of the third sector, we must address a fundamental truth about the way that the third sector works. That is that warm words are not enough. The sector judges itself by its ability to make a difference. Not just to know that we care, but they have the capacity practically to deliver on those aspirations. We need to see and be concerned and test the individual choices and decisions that have been made at local government level. However, I would also contend that we need to have a far more mature debate about resources. It is not good enough to vote through £130 million of cuts to Glasgow and then to denounce the consequences of that decision. I am not defining any individual decision made by any local authority, but if it is placed in the context of 130 million cuts without the capacity to raise resources locally and without this Government taking the opportunity to raise resources through fair taxation, it is not good enough simply to wring our hands. It is about choices. It is about valuing sector. We agree with each other on that. The capacity to make a difference to people's lives will never be delivered if we cut resources to those organisations. As Glasgow politicians, one simple thing that we could do is to be united in speaking up for Glasgow and finding the resources to ensure that those organisations continue to do what they really care about. David Torrance Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would also like to thank James Dornan for securing this debate in Parliament today. The First Sector plays a vital role not only in Glasgow but in all communities across Scotland. The help, support and ultimate contribution to the health and wellbeing provided to Scottish people from these organisations should never be underestimated. One of the biggest challenges that the First Sector currently faces is the impact of welfare reform on vulnerable people and resulting in increased demand on third sector services. The reforms have led to cuts to a wide range of benefits, affecting a large number of people across all communities. People with disabilities, families and individuals both in and out of work have all been detrimentally affected by these changes. A proportion of Glasgow's citizens are as a seat of welfare benefits. 12 areas within Glasgow have been identified as suffering the most in Scotland from the impact of welfare reform. Across Glasgow and wider Scotland, an ever-increasing number of people require on the assistance from the First Sector. In Scotland, volunteers provide a staggering 126 million hours of support per year. The number of First Sector organisations in Glasgow is growing, and the invaluable work of its volunteers is to be commended. Organisations such as South East Carers, part of the Carers Trust Scotland, they work with carers across Glasgow to improve supports, services and recognition for constituents living with the challenges that are faced by caring and paid for a family member or friend. It is estimated that three out of five us will become a carer at some stage in our lives, and that one in 10 of us is already fulfilling some sort of caring role. I would also like to highlight the work of Home Start Glasgow South, based in Pollock Shaws. The regular support friendship in particular help that they deliver to families across the entire south side of Glasgow assists vulnerable parents and helps them gain the necessary skills and confidence to enable them to give their children the best possible start in life. They are also there in times of crisis or breakdown. If a parent or family is struggling to cope, they may feel isolated alone, and the friendship and trust that is built through regular visits from home visiting volunteers provides vital support and can make a massive difference through these stressful times. I was also blessed with the fantastic Castlemount Youth Complex. The revision statement is, creating a better future by inspiring young people to recognise, raise and achieve their aspirations. Castlemount first opened in 1994. It has gone on to become Scotland's leading independent youth arts organisation with a unique youth led management structure. The youth complex is a state of the art building that is fully operational, flexible, 80-year studio theatre. Young people are supported to develop their interests in music through the establishment of a music forum and have contributed to a number of wider community events. Through these programmes, young people are given the opportunity to develop new talents and skills. This, in turn, helps them to build their self-esteem and confidence. The unique group also provides a multitude of different projects designed to inform and educated from the Chill Me, an rightly dropping programme that offers them a chance to discuss a range of diverse topics, including drugs, alcohol and cyberbullying, to their LinkedIn e-school transition programme, which supports vulnerable schoolchildren from deprived backgrounds. Castlemount brings young people from all different backgrounds together and provides them with access to the knowledge and understanding that have a wide range of benefits that encourage their involvement in their local community. Across Scotland, many of our third sector organisations are struggling to cope with the demand that has been placed upon their services. They are also faced with the added burden of their budgets being drastically reduced or being completely removed by local authorities. I consider this action to be short sighted. If the third sector services are reduced, it will follow that extra pressure will inevitably be put on council services such as housing, social work and also NHSS. All the SNPs in this chamber today will have a wide variety of third sector organisations across their constituencies. We are dedicated to helping individuals, families and community groups. The experience, knowledge and support, and reassurance that they give makes a considerable difference to the life of so many of our constituencies. We would be a lot poorer without them. I now call Kevin Stewart. Do you have seven minutes, minister? Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I would like to thank my colleague James Dornan for securing that motion during Volunteers and Carers week to celebrate the excellent work of the third sector in Glasgow and to acknowledge the wider contribution that the third sector makes to communities across Scotland, to the Scottish economy and to our social and civic life. We have heard a passionate description of the work of Glasgow, the caring city, and how it is supporting children in crisis internationally and here in Scotland, with its focus on health, education and providing long-term security for children. It is playing a valuable role in the life of Glasgow City and through its aid is also supporting work overseas. We have heard in this Parliament before about Mr Dornan's visits to Serbia, to meet Syrian refugees and Uganda and to South Sudan, and I compliment him on his efforts in that regard. Glasgow, the caring city, is one of many Glasgow third sector organisations, making a real difference to the lives of people. Organisations such as the food train, which are helping older people, the milk café, supporting asylum-seeking women on the south side, the experience, a social enterprise venue run by Kibble, which provides training and employability for young people, and that is just a few and more were mentioned by members, Annie Wells, by Johann Lamont and by Sandra White during the course of this debate. Many of those organisations operate on limited resources but do an amazing job. We are proud to have a vibrant, diverse and engaged third sector in Scotland. There are more than 24,000 charities and 5,199 social enterprises operating in Scotland and an estimated 1.3 million people volunteer annually, giving their own time to support others within their communities. 1.3 million people, that is absolutely extraordinary. Volunteers week is being held over the period of 1 to 12 June this year and will recognise and celebrate the tremendous contribution that is made by Scotland's volunteers. The voluntary action fund, on behalf of the Scottish Government, delivers the volunteer support fund, amounting to £1.1 million in 2016-17, to local grass-roots organisations to support and promote volunteering among a variety of groups, including projects in Glasgow, such as Feral Bridgeston, a small Scottish charity that provides activities for children, families and other people in the east end of Glasgow. The Kining Park Community Centre community interest company, which advances and promotes artistic activity, public participation in sport and recreation, good citizenship and community development. The Africa in motion film festival in Bridgeston is an annual African film festival taking place in Scotland comprising of film screenings and complementary events. All of that is why this and successive Scottish Governments have been clear and unambiguous in the support for the third sector. We have maintained our investment in the sector throughout the period of recession and austerity. Scotland is also internationally recognised and leads the world with its system of support for social enterprise. There has been helpful legislation and policy such as the Public Procurement Reform Act, programmes of direct investment in the centre, support for social investment and for social entrepreneurs. Highly successful work with schools, provision of dedicated business support and a programme to improve the access of third sector to markets. We are not complacent. We are determined to maintain our reputation and standing in this field, and that is why we are working in collaboration with the sector on a 10-year strategy for social enterprise that will position us to take us to the next level and position us well for the next decade. I will indeed. I thank the minister for that. It was very interesting in the 10-year looking at the social enterprise. Would that include rentals such as the difficulties that we are facing in Glasgow through city property with that? We are looking at that as well. I am just coming to that because in respect to the reports about the rent hike that has been facing Glasgow through city property, which I understand is an arms-length external organisation or allio, I understand that the current position is that the charity has now vacated its premises and hopes to confirm arrangements for a new lease in a more central location within the next few days. I am aware of other such instances, seemingly involving charitable organisations, being reported on and would simply say that the operation of an individual allio is a matter between the council and the organisation. However, when a council delivers services through an allio, it still needs to demonstrate that that provides best value for its communities and that it secures a balance between social, economic and environmental wellbeing and the way it operates. I would therefore urge that consideration is given to the broader picture, to recognise the immense good that organisations such as Glasgow the Caring City are doing in our communities. Firm that you believe that people in Glasgow or of all parties support the voluntary sector and the third sector, you are not suggesting that somehow they are willfully attacking Glasgow the Caring City, and would you support, as I asked, the re-establishment of a compact where you could assess the impact of the cuts to Glasgow's budget on the third sector and their ability to deliver on the things that matter? What I would say is that we will always work in collaboration with people, but this is a matter for the allio and a matter for Glasgow City Council, and they need to look at that to make sure and reiterate that it secures a balance between social, economic and environmental wellbeing. The Scottish Government is determined to play its part. As we said in our manifesto, we will also be considering— Could you stop this arguing across the chamber, please? We will also be considering what more we can do to support the wider third sector, including how we can give more financial certainty and streamline and improve the way funding is provided. As the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities has already indicated, we would like to take steps to consolidate voluntary sector funding into single grant funds to provide greater clarity to applicants. We would also like to give organisations more financial certainty by introducing three-year rolling funding where possible. We will also introduce a system across government that indicates when funding is due to end to provide greater clarity for the sector and allow better planning for the longer term. We would encourage all funders, including local authorities, to try to move away from short-term funding arrangements where possible. In conclusion, we believe that the third sector plays a crucial role in tackling inequalities, supporting people and communities, and in delivering public services. We want to work with the sector to create a fairer and more inclusive Scotland. We want to see the sector work to its full potential.