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You raise sensible points, Mr Doris. We have an ethos of always strongly encouraging decision makers who are awarding crisis grants to be aware that any awards made must cover the period of crisis to avoid the need for repeat applications. If it is known that the next payment for an applicant who is on universal credit is more than two weeks away, the decision maker can make an award that is longer in duration. That flexibility is there, but you make a good point about the need to ensure more consistency. Is that what you are getting at?

I will bring in Janine Kellett to answer the part of the question on housing.

Yes.

I will come back in on that one. Council tax is a local tax, and local authorities already have the power to write off council tax arrears. We are fully aware that there are unique circumstances involved in the collection of council tax, such as joint and several liabilities, which can cause harm in cases of domestic abuse. That is why we are supporting an amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill that requires a review of how council tax arrears can affect those people who are experiencing domestic abuse. That will be a critical step to better inform policy and improve support. As James Messis has referred to, we are exploring that issue through a partnership with local government and the joint working group on council tax reform.

The council tax reduction scheme exists to ensure that nobody in Scotland should have to meet a council tax liability—clearly, if people cannot afford it and there is no way that they will be able to pay it, they should not be expected to. The scheme reduces a household’s liability based on the assessment of their income, capital and other circumstances. The long and short of it is that councils already have the ability to write off council tax debt.

I will bring James Messis in on that question.

I am not sure what you are trying to—

I apologise if I did not make it clear, but the Scottish Government’s view is that local authorities should undertake their duties in assessing the situation as thoroughly and as sensitively as possible, and should make their decisions based on that.

I also mentioned that nobody should be liable to pay anything that they clearly cannot afford. Councils have the right to write off council tax debt. The Scottish Government supports the position that, if it is deemed and assessed that that debt should be written off, it should be written off.

There are significant pressures. Given that the member represents a Glasgow constituency, he will be aware that there are particular pressures in the central belt, which we recognise.

We have targeted funding in 2024-25 to the local authorities with the most sustained temporary accommodation pressures. Eighty per cent of the £80 million in capital funding for voids and acquisitions during 2024-25 and 2025-26 has been targeted to areas with the most sustained temporary accommodation pressures, to increase the supply of social and affordable homes through acquisitions and, where appropriate, to bring long-term empty social homes back into use.

That policy is designed to reduce long periods in temporary accommodation, especially for families with children. We recognise that temporary accommodation is not a suitable place for children and families, especially those who are experiencing or fleeing from domestic violence.

The biggest barrier is the policy of no recourse to public funds itself. As you will be aware, that condition is applied to people who are subject to immigration control under UK immigration law, and “public funds” is defined in the UK immigration rules. As the committee will be aware, those who have no recourse to public funds can experience extreme poverty. They are more prone to rough sleeping and are even more prone to domestic abuse and labour exploitation, as well as the social isolation and exclusion that can go with being part of the immigration system, such as it is. They cannot even access the basic supports that are available for those in crisis.

We know all that, and our opinion is that the UK Government should immediately remove and cease to apply the no recourse to public funds condition to people who are in vulnerable situations, particularly in the case of children and families, vulnerable adults and women experiencing domestic violence.

I reiterate Scotland’s long history of welcoming people of all nationalities, including those who are seeking refuge and fleeing war, religious persecution and all of that. We know that they want to rebuild their lives. The UK Government should cease to apply the no recourse to public funds condition immediately.

I absolutely take that on board, Mr O’Kane. You will be fully aware, from the evidence that I have given to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, that I am committed to supporting and challenging my colleagues and providing support for them in relation to overarching equalities themes. I believe that Ms Brown will appear before that committee next week, when she will be able to provide further detail on legal aid reform. Beyond my overarching commitment to embedding equalities, I do not believe that it would be appropriate for me to delve any deeper into the issues, but there will be that opportunity next week with Ms Brown.