- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2019
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish a national development plan for crofting.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2019
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Homelessness in Scotland: 2018 to 2019 statistics on 26 June 2019, what its response is to the increase in homeless applicants who are veterans, and what the reasons are for this increase.
Answer
While over the last 10 years (2008-2009 to 2018-2019), there has been a 49% decrease in homelessness applications made by people formerly in the armed services, the 8 % increase in the most recent statistics published on the 26 th of June is disappointing.
We are not sure of the reasons for the increase in recent applications. It therefore serves as a reminder why tackling and preventing homelessness is a key priority for the Scottish Government. Our Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan, published in November, will transform how those at risk of homelessness receive help, this includes our commitment to developing a pathway to prevent homelessness for people with experience of the armed services.
As part of this work we will look to understand the reasons for the increase in recent applications by working with the Armed Forces community, while developing a prevention pathway for people with experience of the armed forces. We expect this work to complete next year.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Homelessness in Scotland: 2018 to 2019 homelessness statistics on 26 June 2019, for what reason there has been a 2% increase in the number of households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness since 2017-18.
Answer
The increase in the number of households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness since 2017-18, is likely due to the increase in the number of applications over the same period. The number of homeless assessments has increased broadly in line with the number of homeless applications, which increased by 3%. While the number of applicants assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness has increased, the proportion of all assessment decisions assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness has stayed within one percentage point for the last 5 years (82%-83%).
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to all five pathfinder housing first pilots reportedly being behind in meeting their June 2019 targets.
Answer
Scottish Government officials are working closely with Housing First Scotland Pathfinder Programme partners as the steady development of Housing First in the five Pathfinder areas continues.
At end of June, 93 people had moved in to a tenancy, with a higher number currently being assessed and allocated to support, against a guideline target of 143.
How quickly Housing First can be up-scaled is one of the key questions this Programme seeks to answer. This means identifying barriers, finding solutions, sharing learning and setting the pace. It is expected that the overall ambition will be met which is the goal of the local authorities, support services, RSLs and other partners involved in the project.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Homelessness in Scotland: 2018 to 2019 statistics on 26 June 2019, what action it is taking to address the increase in the average length of time a household spends in temporary accommodation, from 175 to 180 days in the last year.
Answer
While temporary accommodation provides an important safety net in emergency situations, we want the time anyone has to spend there to be as short as possible. That is why we have agreed jointly with COSLA to support local authorities to transition to a system of rapid rehousing and Housing First by default, ensuring that people facing homelessness are supported back to a settled home that meets their needs as soon as possible.
When temporary accommodation is needed, it is important that it is of good quality which is why we will introduce standards for temporary accommodation and extend the seven day restriction on time spent in unsuitable temporary accommodation to all people experiencing homelessness.
We are working with all 32 Local Authorities through their Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans which set out how each local authority intends to implement and transition to a rapid rehousing and Housing First approach to reduce the amount of temporary accommodation being used and the length of stay in there. Implementation of these plans began in April 2019 and the Scottish Government has made £24m available to support implementation over the next 3 years.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Homelessness in Scotland: 2018 to 2019 statistics on 26 June 2019, what its response is to the increase in homeless applicants who are care leavers, and what the reasons are for this increase.
Answer
While the number of homelessness applications from applicants formerly looked after by the Local Authority in Scotland has decreased by 45% over the last 10 years (2008-2009 to 2018-2019), the 4% increase in the most recent statistics published on 26 June is disappointing.
We are not sure of the reasons for the increase in recent applications. It therefore serves as a reminder why tackling and preventing homelessness is a key priority for the Scottish Government. Our Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan, published in November, includes our commitment to developing a pathway to prevent homelessness for people with experience of care.
As part of this work we will look to understand the reasons for the increase in recent applications by working with CELCIS to develop an improved pathway to prevent homelessness for people with experience of care. We expect this work to complete by the end of the year.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the current voluntary review of Glasgow City Council’s homelessness provision, whether it will set out the remit of the review and what specifically will be reviewed; which stakeholders will be involved; what the review timeframe is; when the findings will be published, and what plans it has for following these up.
Answer
The final details of the voluntary review into the reasons behind the increased numbers recorded by Glasgow City Council as failing to be offered temporary accommodation are currently being developed by Scottish Government in partnership with Glasgow City Council officials. A first meeting is planned for 2 nd August. The review is not a Scottish Government intervention and findings will be reported to the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership for improvement purposes.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Homelessness in Scotland: 2018 to 2019 statistics on 26 June 2019, what action it is taking to address the 2% increase in households containing children in temporary accommodation since 2017-18.
Answer
While temporary accommodation provides an important safety net in emergency situations, we want the time anyone has to spend there to be as short as possible. That is why we have agreed jointly with COSLA to support local authorities to transition to a system of rapid rehousing and Housing First by default, ensuring that people facing homelessness are supported back to a settled home that meets their needs as soon as possible.
When temporary accommodation is needed, it is important that it is of good quality which is why in 2017 we legislated via the Unsuitable Accommodation Order to reduce the time that families and pregnant woman stay in unsuitable accommodation from 14 to 7 days therefore providing extra support for families and children.
We are working with all 32 Local Authorities through their Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans which set out how each local authority intends to implement and transition to a rapid rehousing and Housing First approach to reduce the amount of temporary accommodation being used and the length of stay in there. Implementation of these plans began in April 2019 and the Scottish Government has made £24m available to support implementation over the next 3 years.
We have also undertaken in-depth analysis on the reasons behind increases in the number of children staying in temporary accommodation which showed variations across local authority areas. A key element of the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan is an assessment of the local housing market and as part of that, each local authority should consider the accommodation they have available to house families with children.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Homelessness in Scotland: 2018 to 2019 statistics on 26 June 2019, for what reason the number of households not offered temporary accommodation in 2018-19 has risen by 10% nationally.
Answer
The increase in the number of households not offered temporary accommodation at a Scotland level is largely due to an increase of cases in Glasgow.
I met with Glasgow City Council on 25 June and agreed with them that a voluntary review will now be led by SG in partnership with the Council to tackle this issue. The review will consider practice in both Glasgow City Council and all other Local Authorities.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Homelessness in Scotland: 2018 to 2019 statistics on 26 June 2019, what its response is to an increase in the number of instances that households were not provided with temporary accommodation.
Answer
On 25 June, I met with officials of Glasgow City Council to discuss the increased numbers recorded in Glasgow as failing to be offered temporary accommodation. It was agreed at the meeting to establish a team, led by Scottish Government, to complete a voluntary review into the reasons behind this data. Final details, including timescales, are currently being developed by Scottish Government in partnership with Glasgow City Council officials. A first meeting is planned for 2nd August.
