Chamber and committees

Gordon MacRae, to what extent are “No DSS” listings affecting the ability of homeless people to find accommodation? What can be done to address that?

The difference between the cost of PIP and the cost of ADP is quite significant. Do you expect that, if social security were to be devolved in its entirety, the cost of delivering the benefits would be less?

My next question is for Satwat Rehman and Eilidh Dickson. Much of the evidence that we have received so far has had a focus on the importance of lived experience. In considering child poverty, is it enough to speak to the parents or do we need to hear from kids who are currently in poverty, or folk who were kids who grew up in poverty?

My first question is for Crisis. The committee has had a lot of discussions about poverty proofing. What has the lack of poverty proofing led to historically? Can you see from legislation so far in the current and previous sessions of Parliament what impact the input from people with lived experience is having on preventing homelessness?

I am hopeful that we will give carers the certainty that this winter they will get an extra payment that is needed. We have to recognise that Scotland will now be the only country in the UK where, thanks to this supplement, carers allowance is no longer the lowest working-age benefit.

Mr Balfour was right when he said earlier that these are political decisions. He could always encourage his colleagues in the UK Government to increase carers allowance to the level of jobseekers allowance and allow this supplement to go further.

The context here is important, because we are discussing an increase to a top-up to a benefit that is the lowest of any UK working-age benefit. It is a short-term intervention that gets extra cash into carers’ pockets this Christmas, because their UK carers allowance payments are woefully inadequate. Over the past few months, witnesses have told us about, among other things, the huge issues around eligibility for carers allowance and, as we have heard, the supplement will benefit an estimated one in 10 carers, which is nowhere near good enough. The Government, therefore, needs appropriate time to consult carers, those whom they care for and carers organisations to bring in a new carers assistance that will reach as many people as possible, instead of members clumsily lodging an amendment that seeks to increase a top-up to a payment that we know is inadequate.

Given that money is not endless, it is right that we accept this extra payment as something positive that aims to top up a flawed system. Nobody in this room will disagree that carers deserve more, but we have to do this right.

I think that we can all agree that this extra winter payment is needed and deserved this year, particularly in light of the work that carers do and the extra burdens that have been created for them during the pandemic. I am not sure that it is right to decide now to uplift the supplement by the same amount next year, given that what we have learned over the past two years is that we cannot know what next winter is going to look like. I am reassured that the bill gives ministers the power to make further increases as part of the budget process.

I note that the previous cabinet secretary raised issues with the joint ministerial working group on accessing data in order to extend the Scottish child payment. Can you provide an update on how that went and whether those issues are still a factor?

I liked your comment, cabinet secretary, that recognised that joined-up work across the portfolio is needed in order to improve people’s lives. However, poverty and child poverty are affected by the work of every Government portfolio. Therefore, how are you working with other cabinet secretaries to ensure that their decision making is poverty aware and their policies are poverty proof?

Miles Briggs covered my question on the unsuitable accommodation order. I welcome the response and the further updates that are to come.

As someone who has been homeless, I welcome the fact that homelessness is under the social justice remit rather than the housing remit. Is that reflective of the Government’s good understanding of the drivers of homelessness beyond simply housing availability?

Highland Council is worried about changes to the rapid rehousing policy in that, previously, somebody had to have a connection to the area to have a right to be housed. What conversations are you having with councils to ensure that they are supported to deal with what they see as a challenging pressure that is coming towards them?