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We could probably spend a lot more time on that subject, but I am conscious of the time.

Thank you, Baroness, for your powerful words so far. The committee recently met some asylum seekers who told us about some horrific circumstances, and if they, or any of the agencies supporting them, are watching, they will very much welcome your strong words. Thank you.

A number of areas have already been covered, but I just want to go over one of them again. When we speak to people, they almost always talk about simple things. There is an understanding that there are wider policy and political issues that need to be sorted at a high level, but most folk to whom we spoke just wanted to have free transport, to get more appropriate meals and to be treated with dignity and respect. I know that others have asked this, but what can we do here, and across the UK, to make that a reality?

Thank you for that very thorough answer.

My next and final question is about Mears. As the convener said at the start of the session, we have heard mixed evidence on Mears. The third sector organisations have been particularly critical, while the local authorities and statutory organisations have been a bit more supportive. We also heard evidence from Mears itself. I am looking for your opinion, based on what you have picked up through your work. I suspect that individual people who work for Mears will, on hearing the sort of stories that we have heard, want to react and do good, but do they have the power—or the green light—to challenge the UK Government, or do they live in fear of their contract?

Good morning—just—to the minister and her officials. Thanks for your evidence thus far.

I have a few areas to ask questions about, the first of which is mother and baby units. Over the past couple of weeks, we have met in private with asylum seekers in what have been very powerful sessions, and my colleagues have already gone over some of the issues that were raised. In a session two weeks ago, mother and baby units were talked about quite a lot; indeed, in one particular group that I was on, I heard some quite horrific stories about them.

Has the Scottish Government made representations to Mears or the Home Office on the use of mother and baby units? What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that asylum-seeking mothers with babies are being supported? I should have said that the concerns that we heard were about the unit in Glasgow.

Thanks for that. I appreciate that the contract is with the UK Government, but, in the meetings that you have described, does the Scottish Government get an opportunity to raise the concerns that we have heard about Mears? Is there an opportunity at those meetings to discuss how Mears operates in Scotland?

That is good to hear. I think that the women who spoke to us that day will welcome hearing the Scottish Government respond so categorically.

Similarly, we have heard right through our evidence sessions quite a lot about provision for interpreters, which is something that you are probably aware of, minister. We have heard a lot of concerns about inconsistencies in the provision of interpreters and the quality of interpretation; indeed, we have heard from asylum seekers that, sometimes, interpreters do not interpret what the person for whom they are interpreting has said. Are you aware of those concerns? What more can the Scottish Government do to address them?

Thanks very much for that. When we produce our report, the issue will be highlighted, because of the amount of evidence that we have heard on it from organisations and individuals.

My second line of questioning is on Mears, about which we have heard varying evidence. Broadly speaking, I would say that third sector organisations were fairly critical of the service that Mears provides. However, Mears itself—unsurprisingly—and statutory services such as local authorities were more positive. What is the Government’s understanding of the relationship that Mears has with statutory agencies and community organisations? Are there regular meetings between the Government and Mears? I do not know whether anybody else is involved in those meetings.

Thanks very much for that.

My final question will be very brief, convener. In her response to Karen Adam, the minister mentioned the paper that was published this week—just yesterday, actually—on independence, a constitution for Scotland and the protection of rights. Will the minister outline how she thinks such a constitution will impact directly on asylum seekers in Scotland? As we have all heard, they are being treated in the most appalling way by the current UK Government regime.

Before we move on, I want to put on record that, based on what I heard today from the minister, the answers to colleagues’ questions, the information in our papers and Stephen Imrie’s explanation, I would be quite happy to consent to what was asked of us today, although I am happy to follow the approach that the convener has suggested, if that will lead to a similar conclusion.

Like others, I will take the opportunity to put something on the record. This is quite a historic moment, which will possibly—I certainly hope that it will—mark a real change in the culture of how we deal with women’s custody and justice in Scotland.

For anyone who has had any involvement in the criminal justice system, either as a user of services or through working in that sector, Cornton Vale is synonymous with Scottish justice and is therefore almost a household name. As Russell Findlay alluded to, over the years, it has not always had the best reputation, but that is nothing to do with the staff who work there. I want to put on record my thanks to the staff.

What we are seeing now is a real change in how we approach women in the criminal justice system, which can only be welcomed. Given the institution’s status in Scottish society, I thought that it was important that I put on record my acknowledgement of that change and my thanks to all the staff who have worked there over the years in what must have been some very difficult circumstances.