Chamber and committees

Thank you.

I thank the witnesses for joining us. As an Edinburgh MSP, I was particularly concerned by the fears expressed in the City of Edinburgh Council’s submission that,

“in the short to medium term, the Bill risks making service delivery significantly worse”.

I am acutely aware of the social care crisis that we have in the capital but what disruptions could arise as a result of the bill and what is the Scottish Government telling councils to allay those fears?

I will bring in Paula McLeay as I mentioned Edinburgh.

In terms of being able to get housing into the discussion, where do you think that that can now take place, or is it just not going to happen?

I thank the minister for advance sight of his statement and for a 160-page document to read in 50 minutes. I welcome many of the changes that he has outlined and the fact that he has taken on board many of the constructive proposals that the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee put forward. That should be put on the record.

The number of new homes built in Scotland has fallen by 25 per cent over the past decade, at a time when previous national planning frameworks were meant to help deliver housing targets. In the past decade, Scotland has had the lowest number of new builds completed in any decade since during world war 2. The nation faces a housing crisis, especially in the capital. It is therefore essential that we see the homes that Scotland needs being built.

Access to land is an issue that I do not think has been fully addressed in the revised draft. I put to the minister the need to create a mechanism to address future land supply issues, particularly in areas such as the capital. The majority of land being suggested in local plans as suitable for brownfield development is already in use by businesses. I ask the minister what steps will be taken beyond that suggestion to help us adapt to situations in which land for housing development is not forthcoming?

The minister mentioned planning authorities, which face increased responsibilities and serious financial pressures. How will ministers ensure that local authorities actually have the staff and resources needed to deliver NPF4?

Good morning. I think that we all understand the rationale for the legislation and, by and large, support it. As an Edinburgh MSP, I have concerns about the situation in the capital with regard to the availability of homeless accommodation, and I think that Glasgow members would have the same concerns about Glasgow. Has an impact assessment been carried out? What assessment has been made of the potential additional support services and homeless accommodation that will be needed? What work has been undertaken around that on potential referrals in the capital and in other cities?

Have the councils expressed concern to you on the issue? Several times this year, I have raised with you the issue of integration joint board funding that has meant that the capital has lost out on resources. As a result of that, we are already not in a great place here in that regard. I wonder whether those concerns have been put to you already.

Given the system and how you plan, what work has been done specifically with regard to funeral support payment? Forty per cent of eligible people are not applying for that payment.

Emma Roddick says that the Conservatives criticise the Scottish Government, but she will be fully aware that the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, of which we are both members, and the Finance and Public Administration Committee are also raising those very concerns with ministers. It is important to put that on the record.

Reviews are built into the system to look at such matters, and that is important. What is also important is how the system is being reformed, in the UK and in Scotland. I welcome that, and it is the work that I want to take forward in the committee.

Despite the SNP-Green Government’s motion for the debate, it must be said that the establishment of Social Security Scotland has not all been plain sailing. As Jeremy Balfour stated, we are all fully aware that SNP ministers have had to hand back to the DWP their administrative role with regard to many of the payments. I have to say, though, that I welcome the positive comments that the minister has often made in committee on the relationship between the two organisations. They have to work together, and we must ensure that they succeed in making our welfare system in our United Kingdom and here in Scotland work for everybody.

It is important to recognise the context in which today’s debate is taking place. Indeed, the minister stated it at the beginning: the global cost of living crisis is impacting on the most economically vulnerable individuals and families across the UK. That is why both of Scotland’s Governments need to work together to address the pressures and to support people through this period.

It is also why we have called for and supported the delivery of targeted benefits by Social Security Scotland. In addition, it is worth reflecting on the fact that £243 billion of support is being delivered by the UK Government and the Scottish Government together to focus direct support on the most vulnerable families in Scotland and across Britain.