Chamber and committees

On 1 April 2020 the COP26 UN climate change conference was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19.

We welcome this common sense decision. Given the global health and economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was clear that hosting an international conference in November would be difficult if not impossible. The decision also means that much needed resources can be focussed on the immediate task of saving lives and protecting the economy. The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting Glasgow as host of COP26. When the time is right, we look forward to welcoming delegates to a successful COP26 in Glasgow, that sets the world on course to net-zero in a way that is fair and just.

The Scottish Government is delivering an information campaign aimed at ensuring people experiencing financial hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic know that financial support is available, including help with council tax. In addition annual council tax bills have recently been issued, with contact telephone numbers for local authorities and information on the Council Tax Reduction scheme. Anyone whose income or earnings are impacted by the pandemic and who may now struggle to meet their next council tax payment should discuss this as soon as possible with their council.

Annual statistics on the number of local authority housing eviction actions are published on the Housing Statistics section of the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-management-of-local-authority-housing/ .

The statistics are sourced from annual housing statistics forms collected from local authorities, which includes information on the number of cases in which a notice of proceedings has been issued, for each year between 2009-10 and 2018-19.

Annual statistics on the number of local authority housing eviction actions are published on the Housing Statistics section of the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-management-of-local-authority-housing/ .

The statistics are sourced from annual housing statistics forms collected from local authorities, which includes information on the number of cases in which an eviction action has been carried out as a result of rent arrears for each year between 2009-10 and 2018-19. The statistics also include the number of cases resulting in an abandoned dwelling following eviction actions due to rent arrears.

Annual statistics on the number of local authority housing eviction actions are published on the Housing Statistics section of the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-management-of-local-authority-housing/ .

The statistics are sourced from annual housing statistics forms collected from local authorities, which includes information on the number of cases resulting in an eviction order, for each year between 2001-02 and 2018-19.

The Scottish Government provides baseline funding to all NHS Boards to meet the healthcare needs of local populations. The need for additional funding to deal with coronavirus is being kept under close review.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

Table 1 details the number of instances where a period of Unlawfully at Large (UAL) was started on SPS’ Prisoner Records System (PR2) in each month since July 2017.

An individual may assume UAL status in the following circumstances:

When not in custody, it will be when their licence has been revoked. Historically on most occasions this has been as a result of failure to comply with Home Detention Curfew (HDC) conditions;

• When a person has escaped from custody;
• Where a person has failed to return on time from a period of temporary release;
• Where a person has been liberated in error; or
• Where a warrant has been granted to apprehend and imprison a person who is not immediately brought to custody

The Scottish Government continues to engage with all local authorities to develop and implement their Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTPs) to ensure everyone is supported into settled housing as quickly as possible.

Part of these plans include the implementation of the Housing First approach, which supports people with more complex needs, such as addiction and mental health issues, by providing them with a mainstream tenancy with wrap around support. This is something that West Dunbartonshire are taking forward through their RRTP and their Homelessness Prevention and Temporary Accommodation Strategy 2017-20.

Their strategy, entitled “More than a Roof”, focuses on prevention and ensures that their transition to Rapid Rehousing and Housing First supports early housing interventions and reduces the overall demand on health services. This was a clear ask of each local authority when we began supporting Councils to develop and implement their RRTPs. We will continue to work in collaboration with West Dunbartonshire Council to help them tackle homelessness and its causes through their Housing Solutions Partnership Group.

We have committed a £50 million Ending Homelessness Together Funds to deliver the actions recommended by the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group. Given the crucial role of getting people into settled housing as quickly as possible, £32.5 million of this fund has been invested in ending homelessness through the delivery of Rapid Rehousing and Housing First in partnership with local authorities. This includes £24 million over 3 years for Rapid Rehousing for local authorities, £2 million to help them develop Transition Plans and £6.5 million for Housing First pathfinders work.

Housing First supports people with more complex needs, such as addiction and mental health issues, by providing them with a mainstream tenancy with wrap around support. We have also invested over £70 million in the last financial year to help reduce the harms caused by alcohol and drug addiction, including £20 million over the next 2 years to support local services to address drug deaths and provide targeted support for those facing severe and multiple disadvantage. This year, our investment in mental health increased by £27 million from £70.2 million in 2018-19 to £97.5 million – up nearly 39%.

We are doing all this in the face of the UK Government’s welfare cuts and are continuing to do all we can to mitigate against the worst impact of these cuts in Scotland. Last year we invested over £1.4 billion to support low income households and will continue to push the UK Government to reverse this.

One person being made homeless is one too many and that is why the Scottish Government is working in partnership with local authorities and a range of stakeholders to transform services to ensure our system supports those at risk.

While this report is based on experimental statistics which represent a best estimate, its findings will help the Scottish Government to further understand the many issues affecting the most vulnerable in our society and will help us as we redouble our efforts to eradicate homelessness and its causes, in Scotland.

The report highlights that there are similar problems across the UK, with the rate rising more rapidly in England and Wales. There were an estimated 195 homeless deaths registered in Scotland in 2018, an increase of 19% on the estimate of 164 in 2017. This figure increased by 22% in England and Wales in the same period and comes at a time of austerity imposed by the UK Government.