The Scottish Ministers must comply with an individual’s wish to have another person (“a supporter”) present during any interview, telephone call, video call, drafting of a written response or any other form of provision of a response relating to a request to provide information under section 87B(1), unless the wish is unreasonable.

The Scottish Ministers’ duty under subsection (1) includes ensuring that any person acting on their behalf complies with such a wish, unless the wish is unreasonable.

The role of a supporter is to support the individual during the interview, telephone call, video call, drafting of a written response or (as the case may be) other form of provision of a response, and includes making representations on the individual's behalf.

Nothing in this section is to be read as requiring the Scottish Ministers to provide or pay for a supporter.