Chamber and committees

Good morning. Why is there no umbrella organisation representing the interests of community councils nationally in Scotland? Has the winding up of the Association of Scottish Community Councils had a negative impact?

Thank you. Would our online witnesses like to come in?

Good morning. I represent the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to maximise the uptake of Scottish social security benefits. (S6O-02257)

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.

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.

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?