Chamber and committees

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.

I have no relevant interests to declare.

This Scottish National Party-led Scottish Government is providing our further education students with record levels of support—£141 million in 2021, which is a 54 per cent increase in real terms since 2006-07. Will the cabinet secretary detail how that investment in the future of our young people is benefiting students such as those at West College Scotland?

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate in support of the amendment in the name of Tom Arthur. There is no doubt that this is a very difficult time for public finances in Scotland. The Tories’ crashing of the economy, the disastrous Brexit and now the policy of our Labour colleagues are all stretching budgets to the limit. Inflation has rocketed and, as well as affecting Government budgets, it is having a terrible impact on our constituents. Food inflation is at an astonishing 19.2 per cent, which is the highest level in 45 years.

In the face of that challenge, the Scottish Government has set balanced budgets and has invested in supporting many policies to assist during these very difficult times. Unlike south of the border, people in Scotland can claim the Scottish child payment, have access to free prescriptions, pay no tuition fees and have lower council tax bills. Labour apparently previously labelled some of those policies as those of a “something for nothing” country. That was because it did not have the vision and compassion to recognise that the policies were crucial in keeping many households afloat.

High pay offers for teachers in Scotland and increased investment in education from the SNP Government mean that spending per pupil is now more than 18 per cent higher than it is in Tory-run England and Labour-run Wales, which spends £7,200 per pupil compared with more than £8,500 in Scotland. It is correct that we need to continue to deliver budgets that allow that investment to continue, and that is what will be seen from the Government. We can contrast that with Labour’s record, because we know that, when it came to budget competence and stewardship, Labour confirmed its incompetence in writing. We all remember the letter that was left by the chief secretary to the Treasury, Liam Byrne, when Labour was removed from office. It said:

“Dear chief secretary, I’m afraid there is no money. Kind regards – and good luck! Liam.”

Some of us are old enough to remember Labour’s record in government in both Scotland and the UK—okay, all of us are old enough to remember that. We are even still paying for its record. Its disastrous public-private partnership schemes have cost Scottish taxpayers £30 billion, forcing us all to pay more than the original costs of the projects. It is estimated that there is still £15 billion left to pay for that economic madness. Also, do not forget the millions of pounds that it took away in supporting people grants from charities and third sector organisations in West Dunbartonshire; I will never forget that.

My Glasgow colleague John Mason reminded us of Labour’s refusal to pay equal pay to working women in the city—absolute shame. Unpaid carers will not forget Labour’s record either. Since 1976, when it was initially introduced as the invalid care allowance, successive UK Governments refused to align the amount paid with other earning replacement benefits. The Parliament needed to step in to right that wrong—a wrong that is owned jointly by the Labour Party and the Tories. Since the launch in 2018, a total of 833,425 carers allowance supplement payments have been paid to 141,565 carers totalling £231.8 million, which is another cost of mitigating Labour and Tory failure. Think about where that money could have been spent.

We cannot rely on the pro-Brexit and austerity Labour Party to put the people of Scotland first, and the Tory-inflicted cost of living crisis tells its own story about their incompetence, which is unprecedented since records began. Instead, it will be down to the Scottish Government to manage its budgets carefully, set progressive rates of taxation within our powers, and continue to invest in crucial services for the people of Scotland.

The committee understands that the Scottish Government is conducting a review of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, but that part 2 of the act is not being reviewed. What is the reason for that? Does the Government have any plans to review community planning in the future? During the inquiry, community groups have voiced the opinion that reform is needed.

During the inquiry, the committee has heard that CPPs struggle to demonstrate how activities are leading to improved outcomes. As that is required by the 2015 act, what more can the Scottish Government and other public bodies do to help them to demonstrate impact? We would be grateful for your input.

Can you explain how you decided on the list of key agencies to be consulted by the planning authority when drafting the LDP? Are there not some obvious omissions, such as Network Rail and VisitScotland?