Official Report 1117KB pdf
Social Justice
The next item of business is portfolio question time. The portfolio on this occasion is social justice. If members wish to ask a supplementary question, I encourage them to press their buttons during the relevant question.
Number of Births
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on population trends, what its response is to National Records of Scotland data showing that 2023 had the lowest number of recorded births since records began in 1855. (S6O-04021)
Scotland is not alone in experiencing falling birth rates, which is a trend across many high-income countries. That has significant implications for the sustainability of our economies, communities and public services, which is why our population strategy sets out our ambition to ensure that Scotland is the ideal place in which to raise a family.
In 2022, the ministerial population task force undertook research to explore family planning and ideal family size. The task force is now considering the next steps for that work, alongside the recent census data, to support people to have the number of children that they wish to have.
Scotland’s total fertility rate is now one of the world’s lowest, reaching a historic low of 1.28 last year, in comparison with 1.9 in Sweden, for example. It is now only 61 per cent of replacement level, which should worry us all. We have no powers over migration in Scotland, so without more children, public services and the economy will struggle as fewer working-age people support ever-growing numbers of dependants.
Does the Government accept what our European neighbours realised years ago, which is the need to address falling birth rates? If so, what further measures can the Government take to address this potentially existential crisis?
The Scottish Government is clear that it is not for us to seek to dictate or influence whether an individual should have a child or how many children they should choose to have. However, a key aim of the family-friendly strand of our population strategy is to ensure that we are creating the right conditions for people to have the number of children that they wish to have. The task force brings together relevant ministers from across the Scottish Government to ensure that we take a joined-up cross-portfolio approach to delivering on the ambitions that the strategy sets out.
Kenny Gibson is quite right to raise those demographic concerns, which come at the same time as we are battling against rising rates of economic inactivity. What does the minister see as the top priority when it comes to policies to address economic inactivity?
As we have talked about quite a lot, the issue of housing is very much connected with economic activity. Through our population strategy, we recognise that uncertainty about housing can impact on an individual’s decision to have a family, remain in a community and contribute to the economy.
Scotland has the right long-term plan for housing, and we are working at pace, in collaboration with partners, to critically review and prioritise the actions in those plans. Partnership working at all levels—UK Government, Scottish Government and local government, as well as with key sectoral partners—is needed to deliver that.
Social Security Uptake (Ethnic Minority Groups)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported disproportionately lower levels of social security uptake among ethnic minority groups. (S6O-04022)
We are committed to ensuring that everyone takes up the benefits that they are entitled to and we are supporting ethnic minority communities to access those payments. That includes funding for accessible advice providers who support ethnic minority clients, engagement with faith-based groups and co-location of local delivery services in community spaces that people already attend.
Information about benefits is translated into 12 community languages and people can also request translation support for more than 100 additional languages. Social Security Scotland has undertaken user research with people who speak English as a second language, insights from which will influence work to support take-up.
Analysis of client and applicant data by the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights shows that only 6.3 per cent of applicants are black and minority ethnic, which is well below the Scottish population average. That analysis also found particular underrepresentation in disability payments and that people were more likely to have applications rejected. The Scottish Government’s stats show that relative poverty among BME groups is more than 50 per cent, compared with only 20 per cent in the overall population.
We know that social security is an important part of the anti-poverty strategy, but reductions in the development of marketing campaigns could impact on groups that are less heard and less able to access information. Will the cabinet secretary reflect on that and say what she will do with regard to those budgets?
I thank Paul O’Kane for raising that important issue. We are determined to improve the take-up of all benefits from all groups in society, but I recognise that there are some concerning statistics, particularly around the ethnic minority communities and the disabled, as Paul O’Kane recognises.
I mentioned some of the user research work that is being undertaken to determine exactly the reasons behind that. It is the responsibility of the Government, not of individuals, to make the process as easy as possible, and we are determined to do everything that we can. Marketing is one example. There might be other barriers, but we are determined to tackle them and, therefore, to increase take-up.
Between April and June this year, there were 25,230 applications for adult disability payment, of which only 6 per cent had any involvement with VoiceAbility, an organisation that is funded heavily by the Scottish Government.
Does Ms Somerville believe that that is value for money? If not, will she carry out a review to see whether the money could be better targeted towards citizens advice bureaux and other such organisations?
I hope that Mr Balfour agrees that the principle behind the services that VoiceAbility provides is important. We are determined to ensure that that type of support is available to people, so I am concerned about anything that suggests that the people who might benefit from that service are not coming forward. Again, we need to look at the barriers to that, and I would be happy to keep Mr Balfour updated on that work in due course, as it progresses.
The next question is from Jamie Greene, who joins us remotely.
Charity Funding
I apologise for not being in the chamber.
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments from the director of the human rights charity, Making Rights Real, that “the long arm of the government often stretches to silence organisations that receive funding from the state”. (S6O-04023)
The Scottish Government welcomes discussion and challenge on all matters of public policy, and from all quarters. It is fundamental to the health of our democracy.
I therefore respectfully disagree with the characterisation that Jamie Green has relayed. Internal governance procedures are in place to ensure that public funding is awarded without prejudice or a single point of influence. They include an internal audit system, a governance and accountability team, and accountable officer processes that ensure that funding is awarded on the basis of value for money and the outcomes and objectives that best serve the people of Scotland.
The minister is welcome to disagree with me, but I note that I was directly quoting the concerns of a charity and third sector organisation. Those were not my own comments or views, so she is, in fact, disagreeing with that organisation.
I hear what the Government is saying about how it believes that funding is free from prejudice, but the same article that I quoted from in my initial question alludes to a number of third sector organisations that are genuinely worried that, if they criticise the Scottish Government, they will put their funding at risk. The fact that they will not even share those concerns publicly, I think, vindicates that very possibility.
I therefore ask the minister to be clear and give a cast-iron guarantee to any charities or third sector organisations that are in receipt of public money that they are completely free to criticise the Scottish Government and that they will face absolutely no consequences whatsoever if they do.
It is certainly not the case that the Scottish Government is silencing any criticism.
Since I came into post, we have had to make some very difficult decisions. I, along with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, have engaged fully with a wide variety of stakeholders. We have heard the significant disappointment in certain areas from stakeholders, including those who are in receipt of public funding. That criticism can also readily be found in the public domain.
Our ask of stakeholders is that they stay the course with us as we continue to work with them to test and refine, for instance, the proposals around the human rights bill ahead of its introduction next session.
Would the minister agree that the Scottish Government’s ambition to embed human rights into Scotland’s public services is possible only through continued close working with third sector and voluntary organisations, and that collaborative work has massively benefited Scottish society in recent years, despite the unprecedented challenges of austerity and the cost of living crisis?
I whole-heartedly agree. It is evident that the dedication and expertise of our diverse and dynamic third sector have been crucial in shaping Scotland’s policy landscape. That is especially the case in relation to our work around seeking to better embed the delivery of human rights in our public services.
I note, again, that I am grateful for the support and challenge of the organisations that have been involved in that work to date. I look forward to our continued close collaboration as we progress the human rights agenda across Scotland.
Question 4 has been withdrawn.
Energy Costs (Support)
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available this winter to people on low incomes, particularly as temperatures drop and in light of the reported predicted increase in energy prices. (S6O-04025)
This winter, we are forecasted to invest more than £65 million in our winter heating benefits. Additionally, our island cost crisis emergency fund and energy efficiency programmes, warmer homes Scotland and area-based schemes provide vital support to households in or at risk of fuel poverty.
This year alone, we are spending £134 million to mitigate United Kingdom Government policies through schemes such as the discretionary housing payments and the Scottish welfare fund, which provide vital support to households struggling with housing and energy costs.
I will soon make a statement setting out in detail this Government’s support for older people.
Over the past few weeks, I have been hosting a number of informative drop-ins across Banffshire and Buchan Coast for constituents who are concerned about high fuel bills. Amid all the uncertainty caused by the UK Government’s budgetary decisions this winter, low-income households in Scotland can at least be assured that they can access regular annual support in the form of the Scottish winter heating payment. Is the cabinet secretary aware of how many households are likely to benefit from that payment compared with the unreliable UK cold weather payment that it replaced in 2022?
Our winter heating payment will provide a guaranteed payment of £58.75 this winter. That payment was made to almost 418,000 households last winter alone, totalling £23 million of investment.
The Department for Work and Pensions cold weather payments that were provided to Scottish residents prior to the introduction of the winter heating payment exceeded £20 million in only two of the previous 11 years, and they have not surpassed the projected £24.4 million that was invested in the delivery of the winter heating payment in 2024-25.
The winter heating payment breaks the link with weather dependency by providing financial support no matter the weather. Low-income households will automatically be paid, so they do not have to, ironically, hope for sustained cold weather in order to receive support.
Rural and Islands Housing Fund
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many houses have been built in rural communities, as a direct result of funding from the rural and islands housing fund, since the fund was established. (S6O-04026)
Since the rural and islands housing fund was first launched in 2016-17, it has supported the delivery of 253,000 houses. The fund plays an important role in offering support to community organisations, private landowners and others to deliver affordable homes. It complements the significant delivery of homes in rural and island areas by councils and registered social landlords through our mainstream affordable housing supply programme.
Research by Scottish Land & Estates revealed that more than £100 million of funding that had been earmarked for rural and island communities was diverted to housing projects in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Given that several rural local authorities—including that of the Minister for Housing’s constituency—have declared housing emergencies, how does that decision square with the Scottish National Party Government’s talk about reversing rural depopulation?
That is not correct. Funding through Scotland’s main affordable housing supply programme is not ring fenced for urban or rural areas; therefore, there is no money to be returned, for analysis purposes. Projects may be recorded as rural or urban based on population and accessibility data and according to the definition that is set out in published guidance. The share of funding that each local authority area receives through the affordable housing supply programme is informed by the strategic housing investment plan and the housing and planning delivery framework that is agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and that supports the delivery of local authority strategic affordable housing priorities.
Can the minister lay out what support the Scottish Government is providing to rural and island areas, in addition to the direct grants that are provided by the rural and islands housing fund, to support community-led and owned housing initiatives, such as the impressive work of the Gatehouse development initiative in South Scotland?
In addition to the £30 million in the rural and islands housing fund, which is available for communities, we are providing a three-year package of financial support of almost £1 million to Communities Housing Trust and South of Scotland Community Housing to provide support and expertise to communities to enable the delivery of affordable homes across rural and island communities.
We are also continuing to support the delivery of affordable homes in rural and island communities through the mainstream affordable housing supply programme, including up to £25 million to support affordable homes for key workers, where there is identified need.
Disability Equality Plan
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to redrafting its disability equality plan, in light of the reported criticisms from the organisations that were asked to be involved in its co-production. (S6O-04027)
I recently met Jeremy Balfour, other members and disabled people’s organisations to discuss the plan. It will take a collective effort and investment over several years to deliver equality for disabled people. This first publication is one step on that journey and does not represent the full extent of our ambition.
Due to the challenging fiscal situation, difficult decisions had to be made to ensure that this first stage of our plan is deliverable. The plan lays important foundations around improved accountability and collective leadership, and future phases can build on that to deliver impactful change.
Clearly, the minister was not at the meeting that others remember, because Disability Equality Scotland, Glasgow Disability Alliance and Inclusion Scotland have described their members as “raging” with the Scottish Government. They say that the co-production process has been a “sham” and that they are left with a “weak” and “diluted” disability plan. To quote Tressa Burke, GDA’s chief executive, the plan offers
“no commitment to meaningful action and no progress towards disabled people’s equality”.
After spending 20 months of time and resources trying to collaborate with the Scottish Government, co-production has collapsed and DPOs have withdrawn support. That is a very familiar tale when it comes to the Scottish National Party Government. It says that it has engaged, but the problem is that it does not listen. Yet again it has failed to deliver on its promises. Will the minister make urgent changes to the plan, given that not one of the stakeholders’ five key asks has been met by the current version?
I reassure the Parliament and the member that I have extensively engaged with disabled people’s organisations and that I am in regular contact with them. We have taken the time that was needed to genuinely engage with disabled people’s organisations, and to fully consider their feedback and make changes wherever possible. We have heard their concerns loud and clear. That is what meaningful co-operation requires, which reflects my commitment to ensuring that the plan can and will be delivered. Collective leadership, accountability and disability competence underpin every action in the plan. We are undertaking dedicated cross-governmental work in order to achieve that.
I will take a couple of supplementary questions.
I was dismayed to read Keir Starmer’s comments on the
“bulging benefits bill blighting our society.”
That type of rhetoric perpetuates the stigmatisation of social security support and deters people who need support—including disabled people, many of whom we know have a high instance of poverty in the family—from seeking it.
Many of my colleagues will have just donned a Christmas jumper for Save the Children, which is looking to reduce the stigma around poverty. Does the Government agree that its equality and human rights fund and the support that it will provide to disabled people’s organisations this year will be very welcome?
I agree with Clare Adamson’s comments. Our £5 million equality and human rights fund is helping to tackle inequality and discrimination. The forecast spend for 2024-25 on the disability portfolio that is included in the fund is £2.1 million, which is inclusive of core grant funding to disabled people’s organisations—Glasgow Disability Alliance, Disability Equality Scotland and Inclusion Scotland. The fund also includes a range of projects that deliver vital services to disabled people across Scotland.
The disability groups have heard all that previously and are not impressed. In fact, they were raging at the meeting that I was at—indeed, they were so angry with the minister’s and the Government’s actions that they swore. The Scottish National Party MSPs who groaned away when the question was raised should have been at that meeting, because they would have understood how angry those groups are. What new thing will the minister bring today to repair the relationship with that sector? Unless she brings something new, those groups will not believe her ever again.
I thank Willie Rennie for raising that point. I was at that meeting and I have already stated that I have heard the groups’ concerns and frustrations loud and clear. I will continue to engage, because it is my duty and my job to do so.
I recognise that the aspirations of disabled people and their organisations lie beyond what could be delivered in the first phase of the plan. Difficult decisions had to be made to ensure that the actions could be achieved in the challenging economic situation that Scotland faces. A budget is coming and I ask members across the chamber to vote for it, as I am hopeful that it will provide some kind of reassurance to disabled people’s organisations.
Islamophobia
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work on diversity, inclusion and equalities, what recent discussions the Minister for Equalities has had with ministerial colleagues regarding work to tackle Islamophobia. (S6O-04028)
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of tackling Islamophobia while ensuring equality and inclusion for everyone. In September, I wrote to ministers across Government to remind them of their legal duties under the public sector equality duty. I am now undertaking one-to-one meetings with them and continuing to work closely with those who hold shared portfolio interests, including the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, who has responsibility for hate crime. That will help us to explore what actions can be taken to improve equality and human rights and to reflect our collective agenda to tackle all forms of religious prejudice, including Islamophobia.
After the events of this summer, it is more important than ever that we work to tackle Islamophobia and hate. The Scottish Government accepted the recommendations of the report on Islamophobia by the cross-party group on challenging racial and religious prejudice. Will the minister advise what progress the Scottish Government is making on implementing the recommendations, which include adopting a definition of Islamophobia and a workplace discrimination toolkit?
Our on-going work on tackling hate crime and the causes of Islamophobia is incorporated in our key priorities, which include delivery of the hate crime strategy, as well as wider cross-governmental activities. Our approach is supported by equality stakeholders, and there are regular opportunities to review priorities for tackling all forms of hatred and prejudice, including Islamophobia. The United Kingdom Government is considering the issue, too, and we will consider any decisions that it makes with implications for our own approach to adopting a definition in due course.