The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 903 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 25 January 2024
Marie McNair
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation report backs up that point about poverty levels in the UK and makes the case for, as you mentioned, the essentials guarantee. The Scottish welfare fund helps to mitigate destitution in a way that is not available in other parts of the UK. How is the Scottish welfare fund being supported in the budget? Do you view it as an important contribution in helping those who are experiencing the worst forms of poverty?
10:45Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 25 January 2024
Marie McNair
I am just going on to my next question.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 25 January 2024
Marie McNair
My questions cover the greatly pressing issue of homelessness. Prior to this meeting, we had a briefing from the homelessness charity Crisis and heard about the devastating impact of UK welfare policies on homelessness. We also heard about the positive impact of the Scottish child payment.
Given the importance of affordable housing in reducing poverty and homelessness, is the Scottish Government concerned that pressures on capital spending will hamper efforts to provide the affordable housing that is desperately needed in Scotland?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 25 January 2024
Marie McNair
Good morning, cabinet secretary. Alongside the two-child policy and universal credit, the basic cap is a policy that denies families with children basic subsistence levels from UK benefits. I have been a long-term campaigner for mitigation and was delighted when the Scottish Government funded mitigation through the discretionary housing payment. In what way does the budget maintain mitigation, and how effective is that mitigation in tackling child poverty?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 25 January 2024
Marie McNair
Thank you. I will now—
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 25 January 2024
Marie McNair
How confident are you that the target to deliver the 110 affordable homes per 1,000 people by 2032 is realistic?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 23 January 2024
Marie McNair
Good morning, panel. My question is on the role that developers should play in carrying out and funding the single building assessment and cladding remediation process. There have been a few suggestions already, but I am just going to pop the issue back out there.
On the back of that, do you have a view on the likely effectiveness of the proposed responsible developer scheme? I will pop that to Chris Ashurst first.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 23 January 2024
Marie McNair
That takes me neatly on to my question. The committee would be really interested to hear whether any lessons have been learned from cladding remediation elsewhere in the UK that might improve the bill or the wider Scottish Government response to the issue. Does Julie Jackson want to expand on that a wee bit, or should I put the question to her colleagues first?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 23 January 2024
Marie McNair
I am an MSP representing the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 23 January 2024
Marie McNair
Finally, I will ask the same question that I have asked previously. Is there anything else that you would like to see in the bill or any action that you would like the Scottish Government to take that has not already been highlighted in the meeting? I will pop that out to Fionna Kell first.