Shelter Scotland
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S3M-2926, in the name of Mary Mulligan, on Shelter Scotland—40 years on. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament welcomes the publication by Shelter Scotland of the 40 Years On booklet, which marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Shelter Scotland on 3 October 1968; notes that throughout its existence Shelter Scotland has consistently spoken out on behalf of those who are homeless or in poor-quality housing; further notes that Shelter Scotland has been at the cutting edge of developing services, including the opening of housing aid centres, the rural housing initiative, care and repair schemes for older people, the launch of the Housing Law Service, the returning home initiative and the Rough Sleepers Initiative, and was instrumental in the establishment of housing associations in Scotland such as Castle Rock Housing Association, now Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association; further notes that Shelter Scotland is today the largest provider of online housing advice in the country; recognises that Shelter played a key role in the development of the Homelessness Task Force, which for the first time led to the establishment of a legal commitment to give all homeless people the right to a home by 2012, and welcomes the ongoing contribution which Shelter Scotland makes in the challenge of providing good-quality housing for all in Scotland.
I welcome the opportunity to open the debate, which marks the contribution that Shelter has made over the past 40 years to the development of decent housing standards in Scotland and the important and valuable role that the organisation has played. I extend a particular welcome to Graeme Brown and other colleagues from Shelter who have joined us in the public gallery. They had mixed feelings about whether we should celebrate the anniversary. However, although I regret the fact that anyone should find themselves homeless or live in unacceptable housing, I still believe that it is right to acknowledge Shelter's work in assisting those people.
Forty is a milestone age. Many of us remember our own 40th fondly. Victor Hugo said:
"Forty is the old age of youth".
However, a thought from Benjamin Franklin is most appropriate for tonight's debate:
"At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; at forty, the judgement."
Many members know that Shelter was founded in 1966 by the Rev Bruce Kendrick, who set it up as a response to the dreadful housing conditions that then existed in his parish in the Notting Hill area of London. Shelter Scotland followed in 1968 as a recognition that Scotland was no different from other parts of the United Kingdom in the need to address poor housing conditions and as an acknowledgement that different Scottish legal and Government structures required a distinct Scottish response. Shelter Scotland was launched on 3 October of that year, and members will be interested to know—although I am sure that many already do—that its first chairperson was David Steel, who was later to become Sir David Steel and the Scottish Parliament's first Presiding Officer.
From its first steps, Shelter Scotland has been a powerful voice and a leader in developing housing policy in Scotland and keeping housing on the political agenda. Its first 40 years have been marked by successful campaigning, strong advocacy on behalf of people in housing need, innovation and the development of cutting-edge services that have changed the housing landscape in Scotland for the better.
I will recount some highlights. Shelter Scotland has been a driving force in the formation of housing associations, including Castle Rock Housing Association in Edinburgh, which continues to provide and develop social housing as Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association.
In 1971, Shelter Scotland opened its first housing aid centre, which was based in Edinburgh and ensured that a personal service could be given to people in housing need. That service has developed over the years into a housing aid network and now includes partnership with all Scotland's citizens advice bureaux.
In the 1970s, Shelter Scotland campaigned for and secured the first legislation to provide a right to housing for people who were homeless. In the years since then, there have been further successful campaigns, and housing services have developed to respond to the changing housing and social background. One example is the rural housing initiative, which focused on bringing empty homes in rural communities back into productive use and helped to establish community-based rural housing associations.
In 1992, Shelter in Scotland and England came together to form one charity, but the distinctly Scottish dimension remained and continues.
The organisation has always been in the vanguard of emerging social policy. Following devolution and the Scottish Parliament's establishment, Shelter was key in the creation of the homelessness task force by the then Scottish Executive, which led to what Shelter described as
"the most ambitious programme of action on homelessness ever seen in Shelter's time".
Measures included a legal commitment to give all homeless people the right to a home. After 25 years of campaigning, Shelter secured from the Government legislation to limit the use of bed-and-breakfast hotels for families.
More recently, as Shelter is always conscious of the need to evolve services to meet the housing needs of our changing society, it has launched its first families project to provide intensive support to homeless families with children as they bridge the gap between homelessness and securing a stable family home. Shelter has also developed services to assist asylum seekers and migrant workers who are in housing need.
I am sure that members agree that Shelter has a record of achievement of which all who work there should—justifiably—be proud.
From our vantage point, we can look back over almost a century of developing and building social housing, from the housing act that John Wheatley championed in 1924, which led to the mass construction of social housing—more than 500,000 homes were built for rent to low-paid workers—through to the housing boom of the post-war years, the slum clearances, the move to new towns in the 1950s and 1960s, the rise in owner occupation and—bringing us up to date—the credit crunch and the welcome return of local authorities to building council housing for rent.
It is right to acknowledge that much has been achieved but, for all that, serious challenges remain. Shelter estimates that more than 190,000 households in Scotland are on council housing waiting lists. The number of households that are in temporary accommodation has increased. In addition, there is pressure to provide housing for groups in our communities that have particular housing needs. An ageing population needs housing that can be adapted. Young people who do not—or cannot—buy housing might want to rent. People with disabilities need housing to be adapted. Housing needs to be part of the environment and do little damage—it should be energy efficient, sustainable and part of the communities in which people wish to live.
Some of those challenges are new, but some are the same as before. The circumstances in which we find ourselves provide the opportunity for new thinking about the challenges that we face. As first steps, we need to increase the availability and choice of housing; to address ourselves to doing all that we can not to increase the risk of people becoming homeless; to ensure that our financial institutions do all that they can to help families in these pressing times; and to ensure that all levels of government play their part to the full.
I commend Shelter for 40 years of service to the people of Scotland and congratulate it on all that it has achieved in that time. As Benjamin Franklin might say, I welcome the wise judgment that Shelter has accrued over 40 years. I look forward to the valuable contribution that Shelter will continue to make to housing in Scotland in the future.
I congratulate Mary Mulligan on securing the debate. I am delighted to add my support to the motion and to speak in the debate.
Mary Mulligan said that Shelter might not want to celebrate its anniversary. Perhaps "commemorate" is better. Most people in Shelter recognise that, when the charity started, it was not expected to be around in 40 years' time, but the challenges are such that—unfortunately—Shelter will be with us for a long time; it is unfortunate not because Shelter does not do a wonderful job, because it does, but because of what that says about housing conditions.
I was privileged to work for Shelter Scotland between 1992 and 1999. I always knew that one job I would do was work for Shelter, because "Cathy Come Home" made a great impression on me. I am well aware that Shelter was established before that fantastic play, which was written and directed by Ken Loach, was shown on BBC television as "The Wednesday Play".
Watching "Cathy Come Home" was a searing experience for many people in Britain, as they had never before seen such housing conditions. The impact was even greater on me because my mother, who rarely cried, was in tears. That made a huge impression on me. Since that first viewing, I have seen "Cathy Come Home" many times. Unfortunately, there are parents—mothers—who still live in such housing conditions, although Shelter's work has stopped families being separated simply because they are homeless. That is one of its greatest achievements.
My admiration for those who have worked, and who continue to work, for Shelter has no bounds. I am thinking in particular of those who work in its housing aid centres, who give direct help and advice to those who are homeless and face huge challenges in so doing. From its inception, Shelter Scotland has retained its independence—its independence from Government. That makes it not only a unique Scottish charity but one of the foremost charities of Scotland. Over the years, although Shelter has contributed to the homelessness task force and other Government programmes, it has retained its independence. It can do that because its core services are funded by donors.
It is appropriate and right that Shelter has an independent voice; its independence enables it to speak genuinely on behalf of those who are homeless or in housing need. Shelter must never lose that independence. It needs to be free to speak out and up for homeless people, regardless of which Government is in power. I encourage it to do that whenever it feels the need to do so. Its criticism can hit home, but that should make us all redouble our efforts. We can always do more than we are doing.
I am pleased to speak in the debate. Other members will have many different things to say. I hope that Shelter is not around for the next 40 years, although I suspect that it will be around for a good number of years. Commemorating Shelter's 40th anniversary and the publication of the booklet helps us to focus our minds on the challenges that face us all—not only the Government but local authorities. In our surgeries, many MSPs see people in acute housing need. It is up to us to redouble our efforts and to work to ensure that, in 40 years' time, we do not have the same debate in the Scottish Parliament.
I congratulate Mary Mulligan on securing this important debate, but it is even more important to congratulate Shelter Scotland on the enormous contribution that it has made to Scottish society over the past 40 years.
The motion in Mary Mulligan's name describes clearly the different aspects of Shelter's work. More than any other organisation, Shelter is the organisation that has spoken out on behalf of those who are homeless. It has also been at the cutting edge of service development over the years and played a key role in many important policy developments. I am thinking in particular of the policy on homelessness that the Parliament developed in its early years.
A little-mentioned feature of the Scottish Parliament is the way in which the Government—the present Government and previous Governments—uses and draws upon the experience and expertise of outside agencies in its work. With all due respect to colleagues, the homelessness legislation would not have come into being were it not for the determination of Shelter, in particular, and other lobbyists who ensured that the Parliament took the issue seriously.
When I had responsibility for housing, I always appreciated Shelter's work. A feature of the organisation is its ability to work productively with Government and, at the same time, to challenge it. In its briefing for today's debate, Shelter said that it has always had good relations with Governments of different parties. I know that to be the case. My relationship with Shelter has always been positive.
The best tribute that we can pay to Shelter at this time is to rededicate ourselves to the 2012 target. Of course we should remember its work over the past 40 years in the debate tonight—other members have detailed its many achievements over that time and that is the primary purpose of the debate—but I am sure that it would not want us to dwell on the past, because there is still so much to do.
People in society—perhaps even some members—may feel that, with all the other difficulties that we face in the economy now and in the coming period, we should not press ahead with the 2012 target, but I hope and believe that the majority of members do not take that view. In fact, there are extra opportunities at present: land is cheap and capital expenditure on housing has been brought forward. We have an opportunity to meet the 2012 target and should rededicate ourselves to it tonight.
This is not an evening for political speeches—it is certainly not an evening for party-political speeches—but I hope that in its housing policy the Government, which is committed to delivering the target, will devote itself single-mindedly to doing so and ensure that its housing resources are focused more on that than on anything else. The best tribute that we can pay to Shelter is to deliver the 2012 target; if we do, it will be one of the Parliament's greatest achievements. I hope that tonight, in celebrating the past 40 years, we will also rededicate ourselves to that task.
I congratulate Mary Mulligan on securing this important debate on an important organisation. I pay tribute to Shelter for the great work that it has done for the past 40 years and continues to do today—first and foremost for the homeless and, more generally, on all other aspects of housing in Scotland.
Despite Shelter's work, homelessness is still a major problem for Scotland: the official figures are rising and the real figure is estimated to be higher still, as many people who are sleeping rough make no appearance in the official statistics. However, thanks to Shelter and other homelessness organisations, there is now some positive news as, over the past couple of years, the proportion of local authority lets to homeless applicants has increased.
Another issue on which my party has campaigned is the hidden number of households who are parked in temporary accommodation. Since 1999 they have increased by 146 per cent and the number in bed-and-breakfast accommodation has increased by nearly four times. That is particularly hard and unsettling for children in the families concerned. Children need security; insecurity will affect their confidence later on. I ask the minister to comment on those points, as the SNP Government desperately needs to tackle them. Earlier this afternoon, I asked him whether he would review homelessness policy; I invite him to respond on that point.
The Scottish Conservatives are in favour of the goal of ending homelessness and realise that the problem is likely to grow as we enter the recession, but in our view aspects of the Government's current homelessness policy were introduced without proper examination of the impact they would have on local authority waiting lists. As a result, many councils are struggling to balance an obligation to house the homeless with meeting the needs of other tenants. For that reason, we believe that the operation of the policy needs to be reviewed.
I pay tribute to Shelter for its instrumental involvement in the establishment of housing associations in Scotland. The housing association movement is one of Scotland's greatest success stories. For 35 years it has delivered affordable homes in Scotland. We believe that, by encouraging the building of council houses rather than allowing the experts in housing associations to get on with the delivery of affordable housing, the SNP is returning to the policies of the past. On the whole, councils have proved themselves to be poor landlords. We would prefer housing associations to be given all available funding to build new social housing for rent in Scotland.
Another vital service that Shelter provides is its online housing service, which is an invaluable source of information on a large array of issues, ranging from the rights of those who live in mobile homes to issues relating to repossession and eviction. It is a really valuable service for many people.
The economic reality that is being felt in Scotland more and more as the year progresses and job losses begin to bite means that Shelter will become increasingly relevant and valuable. I take this opportunity to thank all of Shelter's staff for the hard work that they do for the homeless and for all of us in Scotland today.
I, too, congratulate Mary Mulligan on having secured the debate, and on her thoughtful and elegant speech.
"Forty Years On"—to quote the name of Alan Bennett's play—I recall going to see some people I knew who lived up a hill behind my home town of Tain, back in 1968. They were living in a sort of house made out of corrugated iron and cardboard, which was papered with newspaper. I was shocked, even then. That has gone but, alas, we still have housing problems today.
When I first entered politics as a district councillor in 1986, I soon came to recognise the benefit of Shelter and all the excellent work that it was doing. I take issue slightly with my good friend Jamie McGrigor. I do not think that councils in Scotland were doing all that bad a job in housing back in those days, and they were not necessarily bad landlords. I, for one, am proud in my small way of what I did as a member of Ross and Cromarty District Council's housing committee. This is in no way to go against what the housing associations are doing, but to decry the local authorities of Scotland is wrong. There is no doubt that local authorities' officials and members were doing their very best to house people.
I will go down history lane and say that it was, of course, a golden age in those days as we had so much more money, with our block A and block B capital consents. We were able do an awful lot more and I feel sorry for councillors these days. The situation has improved of late, but it is nothing like it was in the past when it comes to the ability to build new houses. By the way, I am glad about the name check for my erstwhile colleague, David Steel, who was the first chairman of Shelter.
Mention has already been made of issues concerning young and disabled people. Problems are still with us, and all of us who hold clinics know about them. Again and again we come across cases of young people who simply cannot get houses and of disabled people being offered unsuitable houses. Despite the best intentions of people who work in Scotland's housing associations and local authorities, it is not always easy to put such matters right.
Malcolm Chisholm said that we should
"rededicate ourselves to the 2012 target."
That is right. Shelter has moved the matter right up our agenda, and if we shift from that target, we will lose sight of what we are trying to achieve. We must keep those goals ahead of us.
As has been asked already, who knows what lies before us, with the huge economic problems that the world faces? Shelter has, alas and alack—we should in many ways be thankful to it—a role to play over the next period.
The Minister for Communities and Sport has already made a welcome announcement today about two tranches of £5 million coming forward over the next two years. In responding to the minister's statement earlier today, I asked him whether we know how big the great wave or spike of homeless people is going to be. The minister might wish to comment on that in his summing up, although he might reply that such specific data are not held. Shelter can help us to identify problems by acting, as it has in the past, not just as our conscience but as our early-warning radar.
I have not done housing for a bit—not since I was a councillor, in fact—but I have recently been made Lib Dem housing spokesman, so it would be wrong of me not to mention my personal gratitude to Shelter for the thoughtful way in which its staff have engaged with me and, perhaps more important, with my staff here in Edinburgh and in my constituency office. On the days when I am down here, they are the people who interact more directly with people in my constituency who face homelessness or have problems associated with it.
Shelter's purity of motive cannot be questioned, and I am very grateful to it. I congratulate Shelter on its anniversary.
I add my congratulations and thanks to Mary Mulligan for securing the debate. I strongly support her view that Shelter Scotland should be rightly proud of the work that it has done. Its record is one of which many non-governmental organisations would be proud. I echo Jamie McGrigor's thanks to the many members of staff, activists and supporters of Shelter who have contributed to that record. Mary Mulligan said that we can all fondly recall our own 40th birthdays. I can say only that I will let her know.
The progress that has been made over Shelter's 40 years should be put in context. I think Tricia Marwick was the first to mention "Cathy Come Home" in the debate—a film that had a profound impact. There is perhaps a sense that the scenes such are in that film might not be seen in Scotland any more. Perhaps the scenes of homelessness, poor housing or eviction that are around Scotland today have changed a bit, but I think members know that such scenes are comparable to those found in "Cathy Come Home". As Jamie Stone suggested, many local councillors also know that such scenes can be found in parts of Scotland today. Perhaps they have changed, though, so that a film today with the same kind of emotional impact as "Cathy Come Home" would show scenes of, for example, the Roma community in Govanhill in Glasgow, or the experiences of disabled people whose homes are not fit for their specific needs, which Mary Mulligan mentioned. Perhaps a film with such an emotional impact today would say something more about the diversity of needs that we have come to recognise.
I wonder, though, whether such a film would have the same societal and political impact as "Cathy Come Home" had when people can today, without getting out of their chairs, press a button and turn on to television programmes such as "Relocation, Relocation", "Grand Designs" and "Property Ladder", or other programmes that provide similar images. Those are the images of housing that people see on their television screens today. They are aspirational and are about a completely different set of values from those that inspired the makers of "Cathy Come Home".
Those aspirational values need to be challenged in the political sphere. There has been a great increase in home ownership over the decades. No doubt, there are good and positive aspects to that, but there is a downside as well. Part of that is the con that has been perpetrated that the increasing value of people's homes is a form of wealth; it is not a form of wealth but a trap that many people have fallen into. A young couple can buy a home, then read enthusiastically in the newspapers that property values are going up. However, all that means is that the difference between the value of their current home and that of their next one will be a higher proportion of their income—not wealth, but a trap.
Politicians need to challenge the current view on owning property if we are to undermine, as we should, the idea that social housing is the option of last resort. We need to base our housing policy not only on necessary targets but on a set of values that are right for the 21st century. Those values are about sustainability, quality and equality—not just in terms of social diversity but in the economic equality that we should see in the housing provision that we make for Scotland's 21st century.
I am pleased to have this opportunity to mark the 40th year of Shelter Scotland and welcome the publication of the booklet "Shelter Scotland 40 years on". I join other members in congratulating Mary Mulligan on securing this important debate as not only is it Shelter Scotland's 40th anniversary but it is a time when many people across Scotland face particular housing difficulties.
We can, of course, reflect on the significant progress that has been made in the past 40 years, but we must recognise the major challenges that remain in addressing the complex issues of homelessness and housing need. The Scottish Government is not, and never will be, complacent about tackling and preventing the trauma of homelessness. I believe that it is right to recognise how highly regarded our approach to tackling and preventing homelessness in Scotland has become internationally, to acknowledge the part that the Parliament has had in passing the homelessness legislation and to reflect on the part that Shelter Scotland has played in that.
We are of course proud of what has become known as the most progressive homelessness legislation in Europe, which is underpinned by the 2012 target. We remain committed to that target, although the real challenge of achieving it cannot be underestimated. The target and the wider progressive approach represent years of campaigning by organisations such as Shelter Scotland, which ensured that its understanding of the reality of homelessness influenced the policy making of successive Governments at a national level.
Given the ambitious and challenging nature of the target, it is important that the Government has a strategy for maintaining progress and momentum towards its achievement. Our priorities are clear: maintaining continued leadership and joint working at the political and corporate levels; investing in new build in the right areas to meet homelessness and wider housing need; improving access to existing housing, including that in housing associations and private rented stock; and, crucially, preventing homelessness before it occurs.
Those priorities are agreed with our partners in local government to create the framework within which to determine the appropriate local services to meet local needs. Across Scotland, that will be achieved through joint working with the voluntary sector, which will play an important role in taking the priorities forward and in providing the support that is so often crucial to preventing homelessness and sustaining resettlement.
The motion demonstrates the range of ways in which voluntary sector organisations such as Shelter Scotland have risen to the challenge in the past. I have no doubt that they will continue to do so. Over a number of years, Shelter Scotland's roles have been many and varied: working on the front line to provide services and advice to those in need; providing training and informal local strategic thinking; and, of course, working as a key stakeholder with Government. With the expertise and practical experience that it brings to the table, Shelter is a valued member of a number of Scottish Government working groups and advisory groups—as Mary Mulligan, Tricia Marwick and Malcolm Chisholm mentioned—which range from research advisory groups for particular studies through to bodies such as the housing supply task force. We also work closely with Shelter on particular projects. For example, officials are currently working in partnership with Shelter Scotland's new children's service to develop guidance on acting in the best interests of homeless children.
We are all aware that Shelter's 40th anniversary takes place against the background of extremely difficult times for the economy. I know that Shelter Scotland has felt a direct impact of that through a decrease in corporate and individual donations. As I said in my statement earlier today, we have acted swiftly to respond to the changing economic circumstances and their implications for Scotland's housing system. In the Government's first year, a record number of public sector houses have been started. In 2009-10, we will invest some £640 million through the affordable housing investment programme. We are particularly proud to have kick-started a new generation of council houses—432 were started in 2007-08—so I welcome Mary Mulligan's comments on that. Many more council houses are planned, with the backing of £25 million of Scottish Government funding. That is the right thing to do for the people of Scotland. The same point applies to our intention to end the right to buy on new-build social housing, to safeguard provision for future generations of tenants.
We are also aware that, to a greater extent than was previously the case, those who are vulnerable might, in the coming period, include people who have bought their own home. Shelter Scotland is again to the fore in responding to that situation so—as I noted in my statement—we are providing an additional £40,000 for its helpline to deal with an increased level of calls. We are also providing £230,000 for Shelter's housing law service, to ensure that expert advice is available to home owners who face repossession, to the agencies that support such individuals and to others who are in need of legal or housing advice. In addition, we are currently funding the Scottish housing advisory service—which Shelter provides in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland—to provide second-tier assistance and training to local advice agencies throughout Scotland.
As is noted in the motion, the provision of online housing advice is another area in which Shelter's input has been invaluable. Quick access to reliable, user-friendly advice is important not only to individuals when they face a crisis but to a wealth of supporting agencies and local authorities. When we speak of legislation and national targets, Shelter Scotland's role in providing direct support to individuals when they need it most can sometimes be forgotten, but it is central to making a real difference to people's lives.
In my statement, I also drew attention to the establishment of a debt advisory forum and the setting up of a repossessions group to advise ministers on whether further strengthening of legislative protection for home owners is required and on any other non-legislative steps that the Scottish Government and others might take. Shelter has been asked to join that group, so we look forward to its contribution.
Jamie McGrigor asked me some direct questions about homelessness. He seems to believe that all money should go to housing associations, but I disagree. I believe that there should be a mixed economy in affordable housing. I believe that there should be a balance in the suppliers of affordable housing across Scotland. However, I also believe that the vast majority of the funding will be for houses that are built by housing associations. We have made that pretty clear.
Jamie McGrigor also referred to homelessness in general. A number of initiatives are taking place and have been going on since last year. In 2008, there was a national consultation on allowing local authorities more scope to engage with the private rented sector. During 2009, regulations that have been identified as requiring amendment will be updated. Section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 is currently under review. In 2009, the role of housing associations in tackling homelessness issues is to be inspected by the Scottish Housing Regulator. Updated guidance on the development and maintenance of common housing registers is due for publication in the spring of 2009.
Those are just some of the things that are under review. I hope that Jamie McGrigor accepts that we keep a close eye on the issue to ensure that whatever regulations and legislation are in place are fit for purpose to address current and future needs.
I assure members that the Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution that Shelter Scotland has made—and continues to make—to tackle and prevent homelessness and to address wider housing issues in Scotland. In marking Shelter Scotland's 40th anniversary and moving towards the 2012 target, we have an historic opportunity to work together to deliver policies that inspire those who work to address homelessness throughout the world and which make life better for people who experience homelessness here in Scotland.
Meeting closed at 17:40.