Chamber
Plenary, 09 Nov 2000
09 Nov 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Homelessness
The Conservatives offer a general welcome to the report and the proposals that it contains, as well as to the—if not glossy, very handsome—brochure that arrived posthaste this morning.
We agree with the minister that the Dickensian conditions that prevail at some of the city's hostels fall well below the level of accommodation that should be found in any civilised society. Anything that brings about an end to that must be welcomed. However, a number of issues arise.
Does the minister agree that the problem, as starkly as it is portrayed in the documentation, is a little more complex than even she realises, bearing in mind the chaotic lifestyles of so many of those who are affected? Does she agree that it might be unwise to close the hostels—desirable though that is—until we are entirely satisfied that alternatives are fully in place and working satisfactorily? Does she agree that those solutions should include some form of communal and closely supervised living that would, after a while, enable those who are the subject of the exercise to graduate to a more independent and stable lifestyle? That will be achieved only by much closer supervision and monitoring of the people who are affected, to ensure that they do not detract from the lifestyle and amenities of those who live in close proximity to them.
We agree with the minister that the Dickensian conditions that prevail at some of the city's hostels fall well below the level of accommodation that should be found in any civilised society. Anything that brings about an end to that must be welcomed. However, a number of issues arise.
Does the minister agree that the problem, as starkly as it is portrayed in the documentation, is a little more complex than even she realises, bearing in mind the chaotic lifestyles of so many of those who are affected? Does she agree that it might be unwise to close the hostels—desirable though that is—until we are entirely satisfied that alternatives are fully in place and working satisfactorily? Does she agree that those solutions should include some form of communal and closely supervised living that would, after a while, enable those who are the subject of the exercise to graduate to a more independent and stable lifestyle? That will be achieved only by much closer supervision and monitoring of the people who are affected, to ensure that they do not detract from the lifestyle and amenities of those who live in close proximity to them.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business this morning is a statement by Jackie Baillie on street homelessness in Glasgow. I am afraid that a copy of the spee...
The Minister for Social Justice (Jackie Baillie):
Lab
I am pleased to be able to bring before Parliament the report of the Glasgow street homelessness review team, which has been conducting a fundamental and str...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the minister for her statement, which I understand is an extension of the announcement that was made in Glasgow in June. On behalf of the Opposition,...
Jackie Baillie:
Lab
I thank Fiona Hyslop for her initial comments. It is important that Parliament concentrates its efforts on tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, which is...
Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con):
Con
The Conservatives offer a general welcome to the report and the proposals that it contains, as well as to the—if not glossy, very handsome—brochure that arri...
Jackie Baillie:
Lab
Bill Aitken is absolutely right to say that the Dickensian conditions that exist in Glasgow are no longer appropriate. We must do something about those condi...
Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the minister for her statement, which echoed much of the work on street homelessness that was undertaken by the previous ministerial team.I wish to r...
Jackie Baillie:
Lab
I would welcome a meeting with Frank McAveety. He does not need to ask me formally for a meeting—I would meet him if he were to ask me informally.Frank McAve...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
I apologise for arriving in the middle of the minister's statement—there were difficulties with my transport arrangements. On behalf of the Liberal Democrats...
Jackie Baillie:
Lab
I will clarify the figures. Provision of hostel beds in Glasgow stands at about 2,200, with an average 90 per cent occupancy rate. The overall number of peop...
Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I also welcome the minister's statement. I particularly welcome her determination to tackle the fundamental structural problems that stand in the path of lon...
Jackie Baillie:
Lab
We acknowledge the acute problems that exist in Glasgow. However, I stress that overall unemployment levels have dropped substantially. Since 1997, when the ...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
I, too, apologise to the minister for being late and for missing a large part of her statement. Unfortunately—or otherwise—I shared a carriage with Mr Brown....
Jackie Baillie:
Lab
I should point out that, since Labour came to power, the number of children in poverty in Scotland has dropped by 70,000, which is welcome.I accept that the ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I apologise to the members whom I have not called to speak. I gave priority to Glasgow members.