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Local Government and Communities Committee 10 February 2021

10 Feb 2021 · S5 · Local Government and Communities Committee

Item of business

Subordinate Legislation

Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) (Modification and Revocation) (Coronavirus) Order 2021 (SSI 2021/10)

Stewart, Kevin SNP Aberdeen Central Watch on SPTV

I agree with a great deal of what has been said by Ms Boyack and Mr Brown. Without doubt, as Ms Boyack said, vulnerability has been exacerbated by Covid. We all have a duty to ensure that we do our level best for folk. We have managed to do a great deal during the pandemic in partnership with local authorities and third sector organisations. We have managed to get folk off the streets. The rough sleeping rate is very low in Scotland—as of last week, there are two cases in Glasgow—and third sector organisations are doing their best to get people into accommodation. There is a huge difference between the situation now and the situation before the pandemic. In order to keep people in accommodation, we have to listen to them and meet their needs, which might not be met in mainstream accommodation. It is my duty and the duty of us all to listen to people on the front line about what is required. Mr Brown talked about the Government’s delivery of affordable homes since we came to power in 2007. Mr Brown played his part in ensuring that there were more affordable and social homes in Scotland, and this Government will continue to see housing as a priority. However, we have just lost £218 million in housing consequentials from the United Kingdom Government and there has been a 66.5 per cent cut in financial transactions. Those unhelpful decisions will have a major impact on our delivery of affordable homes. I hope that everyone on the committee supports the Government’s aim to get the UK Government to reverse those decisions. Ms Boyack pointed out a number of problems that have been exacerbated during the pandemic, including domestic violence. We have a duty to ensure that we do our best for people who are fleeing such circumstances, and the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill, which has now been introduced, should be helpful in that regard. As has been mentioned, it is also important to consider the stock and not just deal with things in the same old ways. The Cyrenians, Crisis and Streetwork are running a pilot in the PRS in Edinburgh to utilise good private rented stock, some of which has been empty, to get folk into suitable homes. I am more than happy to consider any suggestions that are made in that regard and to move forward accordingly. Many other things have happened during the pandemic, and I pay tribute to those on the front line. We have seen a prisoner release programme, which—I will be honest—caused me some worry in relation to how it might pan out. The front-line workers in councils and third sector organisations managed to cope and deal with the situation and ensured that folks were accommodated appropriately. As I mentioned, we have also seen greater cohesion, with agencies working together to do what is right for people. For me, the most important thing is that folk have actually been listening to the people who are most vulnerable and have been doing the right things to move people on when it was right to do so. Sarah Boyack and Keith Brown mentioned support for renters. At the moment, we have a package of measures in place to support renters. However, we all know that there will be strains on folk as we move forward. That is why the furlough scheme has to continue and why the UK Government should not cut universal credit, which it looks likely to do. Beyond that, the Chancellor of the Exchequer should be thinking more about what needs to be done for renters across these islands. This Parliament does not control housing benefit or the benefits system. We need to find a way to prevent future crises. The UK Government must stop cutting our affordable housing money through its budget, it must not cut universal credit and it must not get rid of the furlough scheme. Across these islands, we need to take cognisance of the real difficulties in which folk find themselves and find a solution for those who have had difficult times during the pandemic. I ask the committee to vote against Andy Wightman’s motion, because annulling the order would be extremely damaging for some of our most vulnerable people at this time.

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Local Government and Communities Committee 10 February 2021

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