To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its relationship with LGBT Youth Scotland, in light of reported allegations regarding safeguarding failings. (S6O-03779)

I, too, would like to mark the passing of Councillor McLean, who was a councillor in my Glasgow Kelvin Constituency and a friend.

The Scottish Government has engaged with LGBT Youth Scotland to determine the facts around the recent media reports and we have determined that no further action is needed at this stage. I refer the member to LGBT Youth Scotland’s recent statement, which reinforces how it has strengthened its safeguarding policies over the past five years to ensure that they are in line with legislation and meet national standards. The organisation continues to review its safeguarding polices annually to ensure that they are as comprehensive as possible.

Children in Need, which awarded LGBT Youth Scotland £181,000 over the past five years, has decided to withdraw its funding. The BBC said that its charity has immediately suspended the grant after conducting a thorough review in response to concerns that have been raised by the BBC and others. That comes after the Daily Mail published a damning investigation of LGBT Youth Scotland, whose former chief executive James Rennie was jailed for horrific child sex assaults after he was unmasked as a member of one of Britain’s worst-ever paedophile rings.

I have raised concerns in the chamber about LGBT Youth Scotland and the guidance that it provides to children and young people regarding safeguarding, yet another scandal has now emerged. Convicted paedophile Andrew Easton co-authored guidance with LGBT Youth Scotland on coming out as transgender for children as young as 13. If there is no further case to be answered, why have those safeguarding failings occurred in the first place? Why has Children in Need removed its funding? Why has the Scottish Government not agreed to conduct, at the very least, a review of LGBT Youth Scotland regarding what has happened in recent times?

The member has raised several points that I am not able to answer in such a short time. However, I would be happy to put further comments in writing.

We are committed to advancing equality and supporting LGBTQI+ young people, including through funding of LGBT Youth Scotland. That is particularly important at a time when we are seeing a rise in attacks against the LGBTQI+ community.

I point out that LGBT Youth Scotland is not under any criminal investigation. Recent media reports related to a convicted individual who was a young person when he attended the charity in 2009 but was not a volunteer or a paid employee.

It is so important that children and young people have somewhere that they can go where they can expect care, safety and advice, even if, sadly, that is not at home. What is the Scottish Government doing to support LGBTQ young people and ensure that they grow up feeling supported?

I thank Emma Roddick for the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to doing everything that we can to ensure that Scotland is the best place to grow up for LGBTQI+ young people. As I said, that is particularly important as we are seeing a rise in attacks against that community.

We are providing £290,870-worth of funding to LGBT Youth Scotland for 2024-25, through our equality and human rights fund, to deliver a range of projects to support LGBTQI+ young people. We have also made significant progress in embedding LGBTQI+ inclusive education across the curriculum, rather than in specific LGBTQI+ lessons, to improve the learning environment for all children and young people.