Chamber and committees

We split the lone parent rates in legacy benefits—although that is the old policy. Could the new policy assist lone parents via the reintroduction of those rates? I will just pop that question out there.

Can I come in on that as well, convener?

Does anybody else want to come in?

Good morning.

How is the cost of living impacting on dampness and mould problems in homes? Do you have any more suggestions about support that might help tenants through the cost of living crisis and with energy costs? How will the ending of the United Kingdom Government’s support for fuel costs impact on people? I will direct my questions first to Aoife.

Thank you. Does anyone else want to come in on that?

Shona Gorman is nodding her head. Do you want to come in on that?

Good morning, panel.

I want to ask the same question that I put to the first panel, and I will direct it to John Kerr. How is the cost of living crisis impacting on the problems of dampness and mould in homes? Are there any further suggestions of support that might help tenants through the cost of living crisis and with energy costs? What will be the impact of the ending of the UK Government’s support for fuel costs?

I am pleased to speak in today’s debate about the important issue of social isolation and loneliness. In doing so, I will welcome the strategy that has been set out by the Scottish Government and highlight the excellent support that is given by a range of groups in my constituency.

The debate is important, not just because of the actions within the “Recovering our Connections” plan, but because it is important to raise awareness of loneliness and get the message out there that support and help are available, that it impacts across our communities, and that there is no stigma or shame in talking about it.

In a recent survey by the Mental Health Foundation, more than one third of Scots said that they would never admit to feeling lonely and more than half of adults said that they hide their feelings of loneliness. We must ensure that people know that they can talk about this issue and that they will not be left without help.

We know that social isolation and loneliness are bad for our physical and mental health. Unfortunately, the public health measures that were needed in response to Covid-19 made matters even worse. It is no surprise that, at that time, the biggest increase in loneliness was among people aged over 60, and the people who experienced the highest rates of loneliness were 16 to 24-year-olds, disabled people, those on lower incomes and those with a pre-existing mental health condition.

The pandemic was a really difficult time for people who were advised to shield due to their health condition. It meant that they did not meet their neighbours, socialise more widely or even see their families. The work that was done at that time by our councils, health and social care partnerships, the third sector, many charities and our local communities was a lifeline. It is clear that that collective endeavour and commitment to one another was one of the few positive things to come out from the pandemic. We must learn lessons from it and let it shape the way forward. That is why I welcome the strategy, because it puts front and centre the fact that dealing with social isolation and loneliness requires a response from everyone if it is to succeed.

The Scottish household survey that was published in January 2022 found that 35 per cent of adults reported feeling lonely at least some of the time in the past week and that 44 per cent of adults rarely or never meet other people socially.

Without the compassion of our local communities in Clydebank and Milngavie, the challenge of Covid-19 would have been even worse. The position is clear: the community groups in my area literally saved lives and continue to be a lifeline to many people. As the MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, I cannot thank them enough. I will name just a few: the Milngavie Old Peoples Welfare Committee; the Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels; the men’s sheds in both Clydebank and Bearsden and Milngavie; the Old Kilpatrick chatty cafe, which is a great name; the Golden Friendships club; Clydebank group holidays; the Big Disability Group; Inspire 2; the Dalmuir Barclay church community pantry and drop-in cafe; and the Faifley food share. They are there all the time giving support, empowering volunteers, helping people to overcome anxiety and competence issues, providing local employment and being a lifeline.

Unfortunately, just as we were emerging from Covid-19, the Westminster cost of living crisis took hold. The scale of it is illustrated by the IMF predicting that the UK is set to be the worst-performing economy in the G20. The Tory-owned Liz Truss budget created unnecessary additional financial hardship for households and businesses all across the country. That incompetence is so bad that the UK is expected to suffer the biggest fall in living standards since records began. It is well documented that it will impact on people’s ability to make and maintain connections, to take up opportunities to interact with one another and to stay physically and mentally healthy.

A recent poll that was organised by the British Red Cross showed that 81 per cent of Scottish people agreed that the increased cost of living will make more people lonely; and 43 per cent said that they would restrict how much they socialised because the cost of living is going up. That is why, here in Scotland, we must continue with progressive policies that support our citizens’ response to the cost of living crisis.

Absolutely, and we will deal with that through the new deal for local government. The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will be looking at that.

We will definitely ignore the political parties that suggest that we are a something-for-nothing country.

Instead, we will be there to help families stay afloat and will continue with policies such as the Scottish child payment, free prescriptions, generous help with childcare, no tuition fees, free school lunches, a social security system that is generous to those in need, righting Westminster’s wrong treatment of carers, lower council tax bills, free bus travel, scrapping peak-time fares for train travel and providing more help for veterans.

Let us get on with recovering our connections. Dealing with the impacts of Covid-19 and Westminster’s cost of living crisis make that challenge much harder, but, if the endeavour that we have seen from our communities is adopted and replicated across the piece, we will get there.

I nominate Collette Stevenson.

Collette Stevenson was chosen as convener.