Social Justice
Good afternoon, colleagues. The first item of business is portfolio question time, and the portfolio on this occasion is social justice.
Any member who is looking to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak button during the relevant question. I make the usual plea for brevity in both questions and answers.
Housing (Cladding Remediation)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 and cladding remediation programme, including the Scottish safer buildings accord and single building assessment pilot programme. (S6O-03701)
With the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 and the single building assessment technical specification now in place, we are able to accelerate the pace of delivery. We will shortly provide a timetable for commencement of the 2024 act, prioritising the powers that are urgently needed, including the completion of the SBA standards to sit alongside the technical specification that has already been published.
Pilot assessments have been undertaken for 30 of the pilot entries, with works to mitigate or remediate risks having started on five of those. We continue to work with developers to agree a contract in order to ensure that they can play their part in speeding up progress.
I welcome the progress that has been made through passing the 2024 act and undertaking what the minister has set out, and I appreciate the complex work that Scottish Government officials are doing on the issue. However, many of my constituents remain frustrated at the lack of progress and clear information coming both from the Government and from developers on their particular buildings.
Can the minister provide further insight into when my constituents will start to receive more regular, clear proactive information on when remediation work may start in their buildings and, when it has started, on progress thereafter?
I thank the member for that question, and I am grateful for his continuing commitment to his constituents on these issues. We are taking a number of steps to improve communications with residents, including a regular newsletter; improvement to the content and detail of the Scottish Government website; frequent engagement through the High Rise Action Scotland Group; and the development of a pre-assessment charter.
We are shortly going to be refreshing pilot SBA assessments, as we now have the legislative and robust technical basis on which to do so; we will be writing to relevant owners and occupiers to inform them and to ensure that we undertake engagement pre and post that work. I am happy to meet the member to give a detailed update on developments in his constituency.
I would have expected greater urgency on the matter, because Scotland was quite far behind the curve already, certainly in comparison with the rest of the United Kingdom. I would have expected that the frustration that Ben Macpherson talked about would have been communicated to the sector and to the Government, and that action would have been swifter.
What will the minister do in the next few weeks to ensure that we get some progress? We will have that frustration for much longer if he does not address that.
We had a meeting this morning, and I have a meeting with colleagues this afternoon, to talk about that very issue. I previously mentioned the 2024 act, which gives us additional powers to ensure that developers move at a quicker pace. We will continue to meet with developers and officials to pick up the pace. I know that progress needs to be quicker; we have acknowledged that, and we will be ensuring that the work moves at a quicker pace.
Housing (Safe and Affordable Accommodation)
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of almost 10,000 children living in temporary accommodation and 110,000 households on the waiting list for affordable social housing, what progress it has made towards providing those affected with safe and affordable accommodation. (S6O-03702)
From 23 March 2022 to 31 March 2024, 21,092 homes have been delivered towards the 110,000 affordable homes target, of which 15,964—76 per cent—are homes for social rent. In 2024-25, we will invest nearly £600 million in affordable housing, the majority of which will be for social rent. That includes up to £40 million to increase the affordable housing supply and to acquire properties in order to reduce the number of households, especially those with children, in temporary accommodation. We are also providing £2 million in 2024-25 to local authorities that are experiencing sustained temporary accommodation pressures in order to support existing housing stock management and minimise void turnaround time.
Scotland continues to be in the grip of a devastating housing emergency and, despite the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackle that national crisis, there has been a 10 per cent increase in households becoming homeless compared with last year. Every 16 minutes, a household becomes homeless and, every day, 45 children become homeless. What does the minister have to say to those thousands of people who have nowhere to call home?
The Scottish Government recognises that these are exceptionally challenging times. The member mentioned the challenges, primarily in cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, whose representatives I meet on a regular basis. We are taking action to reduce homelessness and improve the supply of social and affordable housing. The cabinet secretary and I have met and worked with the housing coalition on a number of occasions, and we will continue to meet in order to focus on some of those points.
As I said, we are looking at the £600 million that we have invested. We are working closely with local authorities, specifically on what they need for the housing emergency action plans that they bring forward. We need partnership working at all levels. We need to speak to the United Kingdom Government and local government, as well as housing sector partners, whom we continue to focus on, but a large number of actions are being taken from the meetings that we have been having.
We have a couple of supplementary questions, which I hope will be brief.
As well as the Scottish Government’s record on the delivery of social and affordable housing since 2007, will the minister detail how the proposed housing bill will build on Scotland’s already UK-leading homelessness prevention policies and help to avoid the stigma and adverse childhood experiences that are caused by not having a safe place to call home?
The new homelessness prevention duties in the housing bill are groundbreaking and involve areas such as health and justice because, through the new ask and act duties, there is a shared public responsibility to prevent homelessness.
We have been told by people with lived experience of the missed opportunities to prevent homelessness through earlier intervention, and we are determined to address those. Earlier intervention by a range of services, including local authorities, to prevent homelessness can mean fewer households with children going through the trauma, stigma and disruption to their lives that homelessness brings, as well as an easing of the pressures on housing supply. We continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that we have the right guidance in place for implementing the new duties.
The minister is aware of projects in my region that hope to make use of the rural and islands housing fund to develop new homes, including in island communities where two homes can have the same impact as dozens elsewhere. Can he speak to the availability of the fund and the support that is available to local housing providers to make use of it in the coming months and years?
Please answer as briefly as possible, minister.
Supported by our rural and islands housing action plan, we remain committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 10 per cent will be in rural and island communities.
As well as considerable mainstream investment, support is also available through the demand-led £30 million rural and islands housing fund and the £25 million rural affordable homes for key workers fund. Between April 2016 and March 2023, we helped to deliver more than 10,000 homes in rural and islands areas and have invested more than £839 million.
Edinburgh and the South-east (Population Increase)
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the ministerial task force on population has made of the reported population increase in Edinburgh and the south-east, including any proposals that it has made to address this, since it was established in June 2019. (S6O-03703)
The Scottish Government’s population strategy, which was published in 2021, includes a more balanced work strand that focuses on ensuring that our population is sustainably distributed. That work strand recognises the pressures of both population growth and depopulation.
Last year, our ministerial population task force considered exploratory research to expand our evidence base with regard to the drivers and challenges of population growth, the findings of which will inform future policy development.
We continue to work closely with local authorities. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities are members of the population programme board and jointly chair the local government population round table.
We are seeing a historic shift in population in Scotland—from west to east. By 2040, Lothian councils are set to see the largest percentage increase in our populations, and Midlothian is projected to see an increase of more than 30 per cent in its population. Therefore, the Scottish Government and public bodies need to plan now for the increased pressures that our public services will face.
As I said, 84 per cent of Scottish population growth is due to be based in my region over the next 10 years, so it is time for ministers to understand that we need to plan for that population growth and development.
Will the minister agree to take forward a cross-party summit with MSPs and public bodies, so that we can look now at the future challenges and opportunities that will face public services across the Lothian region?
Work is on-going. We take the issue very seriously and our population programme considers the challenges of population growth, as I mentioned. It has been a key consideration for the population round table, which, as I said, is jointly chaired by the Scottish Government, COSLA and representatives from all local authorities. I would be happy to meet Mr Briggs to discuss the issues that he raises in more detail.
The ministerial task force will continue to consider taking appropriate steps to address those challenges, in collaboration with key partners such as local authorities.
The huge population growth in Edinburgh is having an effect on both rent and house purchase prices. Given that population growth, is the Scottish Government taking specific actions to address the issue in Edinburgh? Can priority be given to Edinburgh in relation to the £600 million of funding that is provided for affordable housing in the programme for government?
Our affordable housing supply programme investment in Edinburgh has been at a record level over the first three years of the parliamentary session, at £160 million. The allocation for the city of Edinburgh for this financial year is £34.9 million. Nationally, efforts to boost affordable housing supply by acquiring properties to bring into use for affordable housing and to help to reduce homelessness have been given an uplift of £80 million over the next two years. We have allocated a further £14.8 million to Edinburgh, raising the allocation to the city this year to more than £49 million. We recognise the City of Edinburgh Council’s strong track record of affordable housing delivery and we continue to work very closely with it to maximise affordable housing.
Social Security Scotland (Recruitment)
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its pre-budget fiscal update on 3 September, what the potential impact will be of its “review and reprofile of recruitment” at Social Security Scotland on the agency’s provision of front-line services to clients. (S6O-03704)
The Scottish Government requested all public bodies to identify savings options to balance the 2024-25 Scottish budget. The review and reprofiling of recruitment in Social Security Scotland has protected and prioritised the provision of critical front-line services to clients, which remains the agency’s and the Government’s top priority.
The cabinet secretary will recognise that the most recent workforce statistics have shown that, following the growth of staffing in Social Security Scotland, those figures have largely stabilised at approximately 3,800. We also know that, despite that, there have been on-going issues with service provision, long processing times, long call waiting times and complexities in the system. Those issues have been well debated in the chamber. Will the cabinet secretary confirm that the decision will not have a detrimental impact on the progress that is being made?
I am happy to give that reassurance to Paul O’Kane. The agency has reassessed its staffing requirements across the year to ensure that it fills the vacancies at the right time. The updated recruitment plans take account of the seasonal peaks in benefit delivery and the additional staff who are required to deliver pension-age disability payment.
I assure Paul O’Kane that I, the chief executive and everyone working at the agency are absolutely determined to maintain the performance levels. He is quite right to point out that call waiting times and processing times for some benefits were too long. We have seen improvements there, and we are determined that things will stay that way.
With regard to the front-line provision of services by Social Security Scotland, will the cabinet secretary advise whether the need to mitigate Labour’s bedroom tax and benefit cap is taking away resources that could be spent on further enhancing social security provision in Scotland?
The member raises a very important point. She will know that the Scottish Government is spending around £134 million this year mitigating the United Kingdom Government’s welfare package, which totals £1.2 billion since 2013. There are many ways in which the Scottish Government would like to spend that money. For example, this year’s mitigation alone would pay for 2,000 teachers or band 5 nurses. That demonstrates the difference that it could make to education, the national health service or other anti-poverty measures, including those delivered by Social Security Scotland.
Child Poverty
To ask the Scottish Government what impact its national mission to tackle child poverty is having in the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley constituency. (S6O-03705)
We are providing a range of support that will benefit families in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley and across Scotland, including the investment in our game-changing Scottish child payment, early learning and childcare, and free bus travel for under-22s.
Between February 2021 and this year, our Scottish child payment has been made more than 157,000 times, which has been worth more than £22 million to low-income families in East Ayrshire. East Ayrshire will also be part of one of the five new fairer futures partnerships, which will include Kilmarnock, which is a key area of focus. That will ensure that services are integrated to help families where and when they need it.
Further to those figures, nearly 9,000 children in East Ayrshire are getting help from the Scottish National Party Government to keep them out of poverty. More than 100,000 payments totalling £13 million make a big difference. Contrast that with the attacks by the Tories that have been continued by Labour, that are meant to keep in place the two-child benefit cap, which will mean thousands more children living in poverty who could have been freed from it.
Nearly 10 years on from our country’s vote on independence, does the cabinet secretary agree that Scotland and Scotland’s children cannot put up with the damage that is caused by the union any more? Will she continue to work hard to lift children out of poverty with every means at her disposal?
Mr Coffey is quite right to point to the work that the Government continues to do against poverty—particularly to eradicate children’s poverty—and to the limitations of the current devolution settlement. He would also be right to point out that, according to data published by the End Child Poverty coalition in December 2023, more than one in 10 families in East Ayrshire are impacted by the two-child limit, with families losing up to £3,455 each year for every affected child. That was the Tory United Kingdom Government’s policy. That is now the Labour UK Government’s policy. Mr Coffey is quite right that, with independence, there would be no such policy under the SNP.
Fife Council (Housing Adaptation Policy)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Fife Council regarding the impact of its housing adaptation policy. (S6O-03706)
The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions with Fife Council regarding its housing adaptation policy. However, we are taking forward a review of the policy and delivery arrangements of the current housing adaptation systems, and we will seek views from councils and other stakeholders. I expect to receive initial recommendations on how best to improve and streamline the system and maximise the impact of investment before the end of 2024.
I thank the minister for his answer, but it is important for him to know what is happening on the ground. The fact of the matter is that far too many of my constituents wait far too long for even the most basic adaptations to be made to their homes by Fife Council. That means that some cannot wash themselves properly. Some cannot even access a toilet and need to use a commode—in some cases, for years.
Does the minister agree that that is simply unacceptable in 21st-century Scotland? Will he now take up this breach of people’s right to dignity with the chief executive of Fife Council, with a view to the council sorting out that continuing shambles once and for all?
Adaptations make an important contribution to supporting older people and disabled people to live safely, and the member is right to raise those points. Of course they need to be comfortable and independent at home. I note that some of her constituents are waiting for adaptations for their homes. My housing officials will discuss the matter with Fife Council and get back to the member.
I will take a brief supplementary question from Foysol Choudhury, on the basis that it is about Fife Council.
In July, I was contacted by Andrea, who cares for her two disabled daughters. Her home requires adaptations, but it is not large enough for the daughters’ wheelchair or the specific bed that is recommended by the physiotherapist. Andrea’s housing association will not extend the house and has no suitable homes available. Another housing association refuses to fit dropped showers.
How is the Scottish Government working to ensure that housing associations and local authorities uphold their duties to provide essential adaptations, including beds?
I am not sure that that was about Fife Council but the minister may wish to respond as far as he can.
If the member writes to me, I will be happy to pick that up for him and will get officials to contact him.
Social Security (Unclaimed Pension Credit)
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on the administration of Scottish social security benefits, what information it holds on the percentage of pensioners in Scotland who have not claimed pension credit for which they are eligible. (S6O-03707)
As pension credit is reserved to the United Kingdom Government, we are reliant on Department for Work and Pensions statistics for take-up rates. The latest that are available cover the financial year 2021-22 and show that the take-up rate of pension credit overall in Great Britain is 63 per cent. However, they do not show rates for countries or regions. Approximately 125,136 households receive pension credit in Scotland, which suggests that around 75,000 households in Scotland are eligible for pension credit but do not receive it.
Given that the estimates show that thousands of families who are entitled to receive pension credit have not claimed that benefit, and with Labour MPs at Westminster voting this week to remove the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners, what more can the Scottish Government do to increase benefit uptake and ensure that our eligible pensioners receive the support that they so desperately need this winter?
The decision on the winter fuel payment originated with the UK Government, so it is imperative that it should undertake a benefit take-up campaign. I have asked the Secretary of State to do so, urgently. Scottish Government officials are working with the DWP and stakeholders to promote pension credit take-up, despite the fact that that benefit is solely reserved.
Our welfare advice services, supported by Scottish Government investment, are also working closely with people who might be entitled to benefits—devolved or reserved—but who have not yet applied. Those efforts include increasing awareness and take-up assistance to support people who are struggling financially. That is why we have committed to investing more than £20 million for the provision of free income maximisation support and welfare and debt advice services in 2024-25.
Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme (Cost)
To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates it will cost to fund the minimum income guarantee scheme proposed in the “Minimum Income Guarantee Expert Group: interim report”. (S6O-03708)
The independent minimum income guarantee expert group’s interim report set out important principles for its work, and the group is currently undertaking further development to consider costs and delivery. Given that the Scottish Government has not yet received a final report, we are not in a position to make any cost estimates. We remain ambitious in looking at innovative ways to tackle poverty and inequality, so we look forward to receiving the recommendations later this year. I take this opportunity to thank the cross-party strategy group, which includes Miles Briggs, for its continued support of that work.
According to the Scottish Government, under a minimum income guarantee, “everyone in Scotland” would have a minimum income regardless of their circumstances. The Institute for Public Policy Research has suggested that that could come at a cost of £7 billion per year. Given that the Scottish Government cannot put lunch on the table for primary 6 and 7 pupils, and is set to rob pensioners of the money to heat their homes, should the minister not now level with the public, and should she not be cautious of the costs and the complexity of any such scheme and focus instead on a growth-based economy with a fair and focused welfare system at its heart?
What I am aware of is the costs—and the benefits, of which there are none—of the £1.2 billion that this Government is paying for 14 years of austerity to mitigate some of the UK Government’s welfare policies, which have now been adopted by UK Labour. I make no apology for the fact that this Government will continue to look at innovative ways of tackling poverty. Mr Hoy might be happy to leave those people behind, but I am not.
That concludes portfolio questions on social justice. There will be a brief pause before the next item of business, to allow front benches to change.