Official Report 1247KB pdf
Social Justice and Housing
The next item of business is portfolio question time, and the portfolio is social justice and housing.
Question 1 has been withdrawn.
Women Against State Pension Inequality (Compensation)
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to potential social security implications, what recent discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding compensation for women against state pension inequality. (S6O-05215)
I wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the day after he announced his review of the UK Government’s decision not to pay compensation to the WASPI women. I asked for his earliest clarification on exactly when UK Government ministers were first made aware of the new evidence that he has cited, and I urged him to complete the review at pace. I reiterated once again that the Scottish Government has always supported the WASPI campaign and that compensation must be delivered now to right this historic wrong.
For too long, women in Coatbridge and Chryston and across Scotland have lived with the consequences of unfair state pension changes, and too many have died before seeing justice done. What action is the Scottish Government taking with the UK Government to demand redress? Given the levels of pensioner poverty in communities such as Coatbridge, what steps is the Scottish Government taking to protect the affected women from further financial hardship? Does the cabinet secretary agree that the Labour UK Government must fulfil the promise that it made before the election and deliver justice for all WASPI women now?
I agree that the UK Government must deliver justice for the WASPI women. That is what Labour promised in opposition, and it must deliver now that it is in government. Not to do so would be a further betrayal of WASPI women, but then, the UK Government has already shown that it can take such a decision.
I am very concerned about how long the secretary of state’s review will take. In the meantime, as Fulton MacGregor will be aware, the Government is also concerned about the hardship that older people are facing. That is why, through our work on the pressure on households, we have allocated almost £3 billion over the past two years to support policies that tackle poverty and protect people as much as possible during the cost of living crisis—something that is made more difficult by the current UK Government’s intransigence on helping the WASPI women.
Right to Independent Living (Disabled and Autistic People)
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the assessment by the Scottish Human Rights Commission that disabled and autistic people are not being supported to exercise their right to independent living, as enshrined in article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, what discussions the social justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding action that can be taken to address this. (S6O-05216)
Government ministers take a range of opportunities to discuss actions to improve the lives of disabled and autistic people, as well as to engage with key bodies and those with lived experience. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, who leads work on the cross-cutting coming home agenda, recently met the chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission.
Further to the commission’s recommendations relating to the rights of people with learning disabilities and complex needs, the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities established, in the summer, a coming home short-life working group, which will shortly submit its action plan.
We have been waiting a long time for that action plan, and I will be delighted to see the outcome of it.
I have a constituent who has been institutionalised in multiple hospitals for the past six years because there is no other option for him. That has resulted in direct harm to him and distress for his mum. We have recently had news that appropriate facilities for him might be opening up in the region, but they are still under development. Until they are opened, he is likely to remain stuck in hospital. Does the minister agree that more must be done now to support people such as my constituent and the many other institutionalised people across Scotland to exercise their basic human rights to independent living and to be included in their local communities?
I agree. The Scottish Government is fully committed to progressing the coming home agenda alongside COSLA. The dynamic support register, which was launched in May 2023, records data from across Scotland about people with learning disabilities and complex needs who are, for example, delayed in hospital or living in inappropriate out-of-area settings.
In 2024, we established a practitioner peer support network, which brings together learning disability professionals from across Scotland to share best practice on complex care needs. Proposals for a national support panel are being progressed through the proposed learning disability, autism and neurodivergence bill.
It is vital that the rights of neurodivergent people and those with disabilities are respected, protected and championed. How will the Scottish Government always support those communities, particularly at polarising times, such as the one that we find ourselves in today?
Respecting, protecting and championing the rights of disabled and neurodivergent people is not optional; it is fundamental to a fair and inclusive Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to embedding equality at the heart of every policy, and our disability equality plan ensures that lived experience is embedded into every policy decision. We are working to ensure that all neurodivergent people receive the support that they need. That is why we fund the national autism advice line with our multiyear £2.5 million autistic adult support fund, which provides support for autistic adults and their families.
Housing to 2040 Strategy (Social Housing)
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the availability of land for building social housing, in relation to its housing to 2040 strategy. (S6O-05217)
The housing to 2040 strategy acknowledges that delivering affordable housing depends on making sufficient land available, as well as aligning housing supply with development plans. It is for planning authorities to set out a pipeline of deliverable housing land in their local development plans. That should be based on a local housing land requirement that exceeds the minimum all-tenure housing land requirement that was set out in national planning framework 4. We recognise the importance of bringing those plans forward as soon as possible, and we are offering support to do so via the national planning hub.
I asked that question because Dunfermline, in Fife, has the massive St Columba’s and Woodmill high school sites. Fife Council, which sold the sites for private housing development, told me that those sites will contain a small percentage of social rented housing. Along the road from there is Lynebank hospital, which I assume is under the control of the Scottish Government or the health board, where land is being sold for private housing. The former Fife College site is another massive site. All those different bodies are happy to sell off land to make money, but should we not have a strategic approach—for example, a national registry of public land—so that, when we are in a position to build houses, as we will have to over the next decade, we will at least have the land?
I agree with much of what Alex Rowley has said. It is worth noting that the Government, which has a strong track record in the delivery of affordable homes, has recently set out a plan to increase that supply substantially over the coming years. A strategic approach to the availability of land, as Alex Rowley put it, is absolutely right. As I said, it is for planning authorities, which know their areas best, to identify the pipeline of deliverable housing land as part of their local development plans. However, I agree with Alex Rowley that the issue of how public land might be better used is an important one.
The Scottish National Party Government has delivered more than 100,000 homes that are specifically available for social rent, which, per head of population, is 47 per cent more than Mr Rowley’s colleagues in Labour-run England and 73 per cent more than Labour-run Wales. Will the cabinet secretary speak to the Scottish Government’s success in delivering record amounts of social housing? How will she build on that through the ambitious housing emergency action plan?
Rona Mackay is right that we have a strong track record. We remain focused on continuing that work, reflecting the considerable strain of demand outstripping supply for social housing in Scotland. We have done that in our 2025-26 budget, which increased that budget to £808 million. That is about enough to deliver 8,000 affordable homes this year. We have set out, for the first time, multi-annual projections of up to £4.9 billion of spend in the coming four years, which we think can deliver 36,000 affordable homes.
In calling Mr Kidd to ask question 5, I invite him to apologise for being late, albeit marginally compared with other lateness today.
Heating Bills (Support for Pensioners)
I apologise. I got my times all mixed up because of different people saying, “Be here”, “Be there” and so on.
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to pensioners to help with heating bills as winter sets in. (S6O-05218)
We are putting money into the pockets of Scotland’s pensioners this winter through our pension-age winter heating payment. We are investing about £157 million to help about 880,000 pensioners to keep warm during the coldest months. Payments have commenced and will continue through the winter.
Unlike in the rest of the United Kingdom, eligible low-income households across Scotland, including pensioners, are guaranteed support through our winter heating payment. However, energy prices remain reserved, which is why we have repeatedly called on the UK Government to introduce targeted bill discounts that could take up to £1,300 off estimated fuel bills for some eligible households.
With UK energy bills already £340 higher due to the recent inept bumblings, we should not forget that one of the first acts of the Labour Government at Westminster was to slash winter heating support for pensioners. The Scottish National Party stepped in to ensure that pensioners in Scotland would not lose out this winter. I understand that most pensioners will receive the winter heating payment automatically, but what advice can the cabinet secretary give to those who are worried about reported scams targeting vulnerable people?
We very much recognise that scams targeting older people in Scotland are a serious concern. I have discussed that with stakeholders and with my officials. To reassure pensioners and reduce risk, we are taking a number of proactive steps with Social Security Scotland. We are carrying out a public awareness campaign, sharing guidance through multiple media channels and partner organisations, warning about common scam tactics and advising people never to share bank details or personal information with unsolicited callers. We have alerted newspapers to scam texts and have co-ordinated with the BBC to deliver television and radio campaigns to raise awareness.
We have also liaised with Police Scotland, which has circulated warnings about potential scams. We will continue to work with Police Scotland and use further opportunities in the press in the coming months to maintain awareness about this important issue.
Common Housing Register (Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its previous answer on 12 November, whether it will take the lead in establishing a common housing register in Glasgow to simplify applications and address the city’s long social housing waiting lists. (S6O-05219)
The Scottish Government supports the establishment of a common housing register in Glasgow, either citywide or on a district basis, only where the council and housing associations that are involved are in agreement that that is the best way forward to manage their allocation policies. I have asked my officials to look further at the matter, to get a greater understanding of the views of registered social landlords and the council on common housing registers. However, I must stress that they would need to approve the matter.
Establishing a common housing register has been a long-standing aspiration for more than 20 years since the transfer of the council’s housing stock. However, there are now more than 60 social housing providers in Glasgow, making such a register tricky to co-ordinate. The council aspires to set up a register, but it has found it very difficult logistically to achieve that. It would be good if the Government could step in and take a convening role. We know that, with more than 10,000 people in temporary accommodation who are waiting for housing or who have made an emergency application, there is real pressure on housing in Glasgow. A common housing register could hugely improve efficiency and reduce the costs for individual RSLs. It would be a worthwhile measure that could have a big impact.
I am open minded about all the ways that we can take action to address the strain on the council and the on-going housing emergency in Glasgow. Common housing registers can be a tool to simplify and maximise access to social housing. I have to stress, though, that the responsibility for the management of allocating housing is for the social rented sector. I would want to ensure that the sector wanted such a register and that it was able to put it together. Paul Sweeney is quite right to note the number of organisations that would have to agree to it in order to make it work.
Asylum Seeker Housing (Local Community Impact)
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on any potential negative impacts for local communities when asylum seekers are housed in large-scale sites in Scotland. (S6O-05220)
The Scottish Government has consistently raised concerns about alternative asylum accommodation, including hotels and large-scale sites. Instead, people who are seeking asylum should be provided with safe and appropriate accommodation within communities while they are waiting for an asylum decision. That will allow them to access essential support and services while integrating into a local area. Large sites simply cannot provide that.
The Home Office must properly engage with local authorities and communities when considering new sites and ensure that they are part of any planning for the introduction of new asylum accommodation, given that it has responsibility for asylum accommodation.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that communities have legitimate concerns about the use of asylum hotels, such as the Mercure hotel in Dumfries, particularly when large groups of young men congregate in the town? In her letter to the home secretary, the cabinet secretary made specific reference to “negative impacts”. Is she prepared to put on record what she believes the negative impacts on communities are when asylum seekers are housed in that way?
I remain concerned about the impact of Home Office decisions on local services in particular. That is a continuing difficulty with the Home Office, as the co-ordination between it and local services, including national health service boards, is far from adequate. It allows a degree of concern to be built up, both by local providers and communities, because they do not know whether there will be an impact on their services. The gap in information allows misinformation, as well as genuine concerns, to develop.
That is why I am very keen that the Home Office comes forward with robust and quick answers to questions about the impacts on local services, with reassurances that services will be provided on site. If they are not, bodies such as local authorities and health boards should be compensated financially for the impact in order to reassure people that we can welcome people to this country and that there will not be a negative impact on local services when we do so.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that reassurance, but will she please reaffirm the Scottish Government’s priority to ensure that anyone who is accommodated in Scotland is treated with dignity and compassion, that they receive the wraparound support that they require and that local communities are engaged in the process?
It is very difficult to provide reassurance when the Home Office is responsible for that asylum accommodation and is unable to provide reassurance to the Scottish Government or the many local authorities and NHS boards that are involved. That makes it exceptionally challenging to reassure people who are seeking asylum or the communities that are already present in an area.
In Scotland, our approach is to work together where we can, and that has worked well with United Kingdom Government departments in the past. Such partnerships have existed and could exist again, but that requires all parties, including the UK Government, to work together to ensure that our communities feel safe and that they are included and respected in the decisions that are taken on this very sensitive issue.
Social Housing (Greenock and Inverclyde)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with registered social landlords in the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency regarding the lack of new social homes being built. (S6O-05221)
My officials have regular discussions with RSLs and Inverclyde Council to discuss the delivery of affordable homes in the authority area. The most recent meeting took place in early November with River Clyde Homes and Inverclyde Council, and discussions focused on current priorities and future planning. We are making £9.7 million available for affordable homes in Inverclyde this financial year.
The cabinet secretary will be very much aware of the lack of RSL house building in my constituency, with £19 million of funding for new builds being handed back to the Scottish Government over the past two years.
I appreciate that the Scottish Government cannot mandate RSLs to build new properties, but will the cabinet secretary agree to meet local RSLs and engage with them directly on the urgent need for new social housing and not for flatted dwellings to be built in order to help deal with the housing emergency?
I do not want to see any underspend or money coming back to the Government when it comes to the delivery of affordable homes, albeit I understand that certain issues will always arise that might make development difficult. We seek to avoid that happening by taking a very flexible and adaptive approach to the delivery of the affordable homes supply programme fund, including my officials being able to move money around to where it can be spent and where homes can be delivered.
On the specific question of Inverclyde, I have emphasised a number of times the importance that the Government places on the urgent delivery of affordable homes across Scotland, and I would be pleased to meet Mr McMillan and the associations should the need arise.
That concludes portfolio question time on social justice and housing.
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Urgent Question