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I have nothing more on that, convener. It was really helpful.

I do have another question, though. Given that this is our only evidence-taking session on the UNCRC bill, I just want to ask you—I will ask the second panel this, too—whether you feel that that is enough for us as a committee to be doing. If not, is there anyone else from whom we should be hearing?

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.

That is helpful. Thank you.

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?

Yes. I find what you are saying about the need to reach out to these communities to be really interesting; indeed, Afam mentioned that the communities are there and that the door is open. It is important to note that it is up to us to make that effort.

You might have already covered my second question slightly. The witnesses in the committee’s scrutiny process have said that one of the challenges is to understand the impact of committees on the budget. Indeed, the committee’s own work has shown the value of increasing participation in the process, but that doing so is resource intensive and time consuming, especially given the lack of public awareness of the budget process.

That is the preamble—here is the question. How will you work with colleagues to promote participation by ensuring that budget documentation more effectively demonstrates the changes and decisions that have been made as a result of committee scrutiny? We are transparent and the information is there, but how can we ensure that that information is understandable and digestible?

Thank you all for your questions. I am going to be asking the question on behalf of Afam. Is there anything that I need to keep in mind while asking that question? I am particularly going to be focusing on participation.

Thank you—that is really helpful.

That was really fascinating—thank you.

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?”