Chamber
Plenary, 09 Nov 2000
09 Nov 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Homelessness
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 conditions urgently.
I assure Bill Aitken that I am aware of the complexity of the needs of the rough sleeping population, both in Glasgow and throughout Scotland. However, I am also aware that hostels contribute to the problem of homelessness—about 60 per cent of the hostel population have been previously barred from hostels because of their behaviour.
I offer Bill Aitken the absolute assurance that we will not close down any hostels until appropriate accommodation is put in place. We do not wish to contribute to people ending up on the streets—we want to ensure that people make a smooth transition to more appropriate accommodation.
Last night, I visited supported accommodation in Moffat Street in the Gorbals, where I met some former residents of the Great Eastern Hotel. The services that are provided in that supported accommodation were very impressive, in that they are focused on the needs of individuals—whatever their problems—rather than on the needs of the service deliverers. That approach not only helps the residents to sustain tenancies, but addresses the underlying problems that contributed to the residents' sleeping rough in the first instance.
I assure Bill Aitken that our plan is to provide small-scale supported accommodation for people who have acute and chronic needs and to wrap services around them to prevent the recurrence of rough sleeping.
I assure Bill Aitken that I am aware of the complexity of the needs of the rough sleeping population, both in Glasgow and throughout Scotland. However, I am also aware that hostels contribute to the problem of homelessness—about 60 per cent of the hostel population have been previously barred from hostels because of their behaviour.
I offer Bill Aitken the absolute assurance that we will not close down any hostels until appropriate accommodation is put in place. We do not wish to contribute to people ending up on the streets—we want to ensure that people make a smooth transition to more appropriate accommodation.
Last night, I visited supported accommodation in Moffat Street in the Gorbals, where I met some former residents of the Great Eastern Hotel. The services that are provided in that supported accommodation were very impressive, in that they are focused on the needs of individuals—whatever their problems—rather than on the needs of the service deliverers. That approach not only helps the residents to sustain tenancies, but addresses the underlying problems that contributed to the residents' sleeping rough in the first instance.
I assure Bill Aitken that our plan is to provide small-scale supported accommodation for people who have acute and chronic needs and to wrap services around them to prevent the recurrence of rough sleeping.
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.