Chamber and committees

I welcome the efforts that have been made to maximise the take-up of social security benefits in Scotland, which is vital, given the impact that the Westminster-imposed cost of living crisis is having on many people.

A recent report by Policy in Practice estimated that £7.5 billion-worth of universal credit is not claimed. Universal credit is one of the passport benefits allowing access to the vital Scottish child payment. Is the cabinet secretary concerned that the lack of a benefit take-up strategy by the United Kingdom Government, to encourage the take-up of universal credit, might deny some families access to the Scottish child payment?

The recent work by the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Scottish Hazards group shows that we need to consider the best way to reform legislation in order to better allow negligent companies to be prosecuted. The enforcement of safe working environments is essential, and it is a disgrace that the UK Government has cut the Health and Safety Executive’s budget by 40 per cent.

The Scottish Hazards group has stated that

“only full devolution of health and safety regulation allowing convergence with existing devolved powers ... will provide the necessary foundation for a health and safety system that protects workers and delivers justice for those impacted by health and safety failure.”

Does the cabinet secretary agree with that view?

I congratulate my colleague Evelyn Tweed on securing this important debate and on her thoughtful and knowledgeable opening speech.

I am pleased to be able to speak in tonight’s debate on raising awareness of Lyme disease. It can be devastating to people, and it is vital that everyone knows how to prevent its transmission. I am a committed campaigner on the issue, and the debate is very welcome as a useful vehicle to get the message out.

In Scotland, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases of Lyme disease that are reported each year. Lyme disease is an increasing problem, and as we enter the warmer summer months, it is vital that, alongside our healthcare partners, we do all that we can to ensure that our constituents are properly informed about its danger.

One of the few benefits that came out of the Covid-19 pandemic was that many people took the time to explore everything that Scotland has to offer. They spent time walking, hiking and enjoying our beautiful outdoor spaces. We are so fortunate to have such fantastic countryside on our doorstep, but with that renewed desire to explore those areas, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people being bitten by ticks, the main driver of Lyme disease in Scotland.

Recent research found that almost two thirds of people in Scotland have been bitten by or know someone who has been bitten by a tick. More concerning than that, however, is that the same research found that more than half of people in Scotland do not know what to do when bitten by a tick. Those are extremely concerning figures, which show just how much work we still need to do.

I am pleased to repeat the experience of my constituent Pauline, who joins us here today in the public gallery alongside pupils from St Peter the Apostle high school in Clydebank. Pauline is keen to raise awareness of the disease’s impact and share her story. As Pauline’s MSP, I am happy to do so and ensure that the voices of my constituents are heard in our Parliament.

After Pauline was bitten by a tick more than 30 years ago, she experienced flu-like symptoms and an expanding bull’s-eye rash. She was misdiagnosed numerous times, and it was not until 2018 that, after seeing a range of specialists, she was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease. Unfortunately, she spent decades facing a wide range of debilitating symptoms before getting the treatment that she needed. It was an absolutely horrific experience for Pauline, and we must do everything that we can to ensure that situations like that do not happen again.

I was also struck by the case of Rico Franchi, which was publicised by the national health service. Rico is a 40-year-old father of three who has lived with Lyme disease for more than 12 years. He went from being a super-fit gym goer to being completely floored. His lifestyle was significantly disrupted. If it can happen to Rico, it can happen to any of us.

There is no cure for Lyme disease, so we must do three things. We must educate people about prevention, improve our testing capacities and ensure that patients with Lyme disease get the treatment and support that they need. With the warmer summer months just around the corner, it is important that we prioritise the first of those actions, which involves educating people about how to deal with tick bites.

People should always check for ticks after spending time in green spaces, carefully remove any ticks as soon as possible, make sure that their socks are tucked into their trousers when they are in green spaces and see their GP urgently if they develop a red circular rash and flu-like symptoms.

We want to ensure that people enjoy their time in Scotland’s beautiful outdoors, but we also want to ensure that they do so safely, so that they do not have to go through what Pauline, Rico and many others have had to endure.

Are tenants definitely aware of their rights regarding the housing quality that they are entitled to, and of how to enforce those rights? How can landlords work with their tenants to promote their rights and ensure that complaints systems are clear and easy to use?

The committee heard that there is some good practice on preventing and tackling dampness and mould but that that needs to be more widespread and should be shared with private landlords. How can the Scottish Government help to facilitate the sharing of good practice?

Unfortunately, tenants getting blamed for dampness and mould is still an issue, but I hope that that changes. Does anyone else want to come in?

At a previous committee session on this topic, Shelter Scotland, Living Rent and Citizens Advice Scotland advised that some landlords are still blaming their tenants for dampness and mould in their homes and saying that the problem was likely caused by lifestyle issues. Do you agree that that attitude still exists among some landlords and, if so, how can such attitudes be changed? I put that question to Helen Shaw first.

Charities play a vital role in supporting all our communities, particularly those that are in greatest need. The pandemic and the cost of living crisis have continued to highlight how vital the support that charities provide truly is. I see that at first hand with the terrific charities in my Clydebank and Milngavie constituency. I put on record my thanks to all the hard-working charities that support those in need and work to improve our communities.

The bill is an important step that we must take to strengthen the third sector in Scotland. It has been 17 years since legislation concerning charity law in Scotland was passed. It is important that we have listened to charities that have called for the Scottish Government to update and strengthen the current regulations.

It is right that, as a starting point for updating the legislation, the bill is centred on the practical proposals that the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator put forward. Scotland’s charities raise over £14 billion each year, so it is essential that they are properly regulated. Charities cannot exist without the support of generous donors, and we know that those donors are more likely to support charities when they are confident that those in charge are the right people to ensure that their money is being used responsibly.

At its core, charity is about trust. When individuals become involved with a charity, they give more than just their time and money, and they deserve to know that those who manage their donations and run the charity can be trusted to act in its best interests. The bill will ensure that the public can trust the charities that are most important to them by enhancing transparency and accountability across the sector.

OSCR already does vital work in overseeing the third sector in Scotland. It grants charitable status, monitors compliance and investigates misconduct and much more. However, it is clear that it does not currently have the powers to fulfil its core aim of ensuring transparency. With OSCR’s ability to issue positive directions, publish annual financial accounts for every charity, appoint interim trustees where required for a maximum of 12 months, and ensure that individuals who are disqualified as trustees are known and unable to work in other senior management roles, the bill will ensure that OSCR has the enforcement powers that it needs to meet its core aim of increasing transparency in the sector.

Charities have often benefited from their trustees having lived experience of a specific issue. I am conscious that there will be certain areas in which, due to their nature, trustees must be afforded anonymity—in victim support organisations, for example. Therefore, I am glad that, as the Social Justice and Social Security Committee concluded, the bill’s provisions strike a good balance between greater transparency and providing avenues to protect the identity of trustees where necessary.

What is most important about the proposals in the bill is that they in no way impact on charities’ ability to support those in need. No decisions that we make will mean that any charity will have to sacrifice front-line resources. More than half of all charitable organisations in Scotland have an annual income of under £25,000. It would not take much additional regulatory burden for the vital work that those smaller charities do to be significantly hampered.

With that in mind, I am pleased that the analysis that the Scottish Government conducted found that charities are supportive of the proposals in the bill and that they do not foresee anything other than minor costs. That finding was supported by Citizens Advice Scotland.

It is important that we acknowledge the views of the experts who consulted on the bill. The Law Society of Scotland stated that the proposals are “sensible and proportionate” and that the register of trustees’ names will directly increase transparency. The chair of OSCR believes that the bill will

“increase public trust in Scotland’s 25,000 charities”,

and Citizens Advice Scotland highlighted that the bill will help to improve public confidence in the third sector and ensure that the benefits that charities provide to society are therefore maximised. It is therefore clear to me that there is widespread support for the proposals from those who will be most impacted.

I believe that the bill is an important step that we must take to support the third sector. Charities will continue to receive the donations that they urgently require only if donors have full confidence that their donations are going to support those who need it most. The improvements that the bill will make to transparency in the sector will go a long way towards ensuring that donors continue to have confidence in the charities that they choose to support.

It is clear from the consultation that further work will be required as we continue to strengthen the Scottish charity sector. However, I am a firm supporter of the bill and I believe that it provides the best possible framework to begin comprehensively improving charity regulation in Scotland.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that a big hit on the Scottish welfare fund is from mitigation of UK benefit sanctions. Does she share my astonishment—and, I am sure, the astonishment of Mr Sweeney—that Labour has reneged on its pledge to scrap universal credit and has said that it will keep the sanctions regime? Is it not clear that change is not coming?

A major provider of palliative care in Scotland is our hospice network. St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, in my constituency, has contacted me regarding funding pressures. Will the minister meet me and representatives of the hospice to discuss those pressures and how we can assist hospices as we move forward?