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 773 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 28 April 2022
Elena Whitham
Thank you. That was a very important point to bring to our attention, and that was a great way to end the session.
I thank the witnesses for their evidence, some of which was quite difficult to hear—it would have been difficult to deliver to us, as well. If the witnesses feel that anything was missing this morning, they should feel free to follow that up in writing.
The committee will not meet next week, as the council elections are on Thursday 5 May. Like Paul McLennan and Evelyn Tweed, I will cease to be a local councillor on that day. We will be back on 12 May to continue taking evidence in the inquiry.
I close the public part of the meeting.
11:07 Meeting continued in private until 11:33.Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 April 2022
Elena Whitham
I thank all our witnesses for their evidence. Next week, the committee will begin taking evidence for its inquiry on low-income and debt advice.
As agreed earlier, we now move into private session.
11:21 Meeting continued in private until 11:40.Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 April 2022
Elena Whitham
Paul McLennan will ask the final few questions.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 April 2022
Elena Whitham
My next question is for Alison Watson. In your estimation, will our rapid rehousing transition plan and ending homelessness together action plan, along with the £20 million to tackle the shortage of accommodation for the Travelling community, get us where we need to be?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 April 2022
Elena Whitham
Pam Duncan-Glancy has some questions on this theme, and following those she will take us on to our third theme, which concerns meeting the targets.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 April 2022
Elena Whitham
We move to theme 4, which is about warm affordable homes. Before I hand over to my colleague Miles Briggs, I have a question about children in the Gypsy Traveller community. We know that £20 million has been set aside to address their accommodation needs in the next few years, and we know that they experience some of the harshest and most enduring poverty. How can we address the needs of those children, who can experience the harshest poverty?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 April 2022
Elena Whitham
Can we now hear from Peter Kelly, please?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 April 2022
Elena Whitham
Our second theme is employability and fair work.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 April 2022
Elena Whitham
I know that there are issues with regard to housing for children who are in kinship care, especially where they need adaptations to be made or the house is not suitable for them. That probably feeds back into the answers that we have heard to some of the other questions. I recognise that that might be a question that nobody on the panel is currently able to answer, but I thank Miles Briggs for raising the issue, because it is important.
I hand over to Natalie Don.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 April 2022
Elena Whitham
We move to questions from Natalie Don and then Pam Duncan-Glancy.