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 596 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 16 December 2021
Emma Roddick
This question is for Craig Smith. I noticed that the SAMH response says that the assessment issues are the most significant problem for mental health patients applying for PIP. Do you agree that the changes that have been made to assessment amount to a massive change in the experience of disabled claimants with a mental health issue even before eligibility is considered?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 11 November 2021
Emma Roddick
The Scottish Government has recently expanded free school meals to blanket age groups, which I and many others are supportive of. However, given that claiming free school meals is linked to other payments, including bridging payments for the Scottish child payment, what is being done to communicate the benefits of applying for free school meals even if your kid is already being fed?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 11 November 2021
Emma Roddick
You touched on the role of the media in supplementing your efforts. What do you expect or want the media to do to help you to drive down stigma?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 11 November 2021
Emma Roddick
You have acknowledged in the strategy that stigma plays a big part in the low take-up of benefits. What is the Government doing to tackle that stigma?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 4 November 2021
Emma Roddick
Lorraine McGrath, to what extent would a negative initial response turn off those groups from interacting with housing services in the future?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 4 November 2021
Emma Roddick
Dr Watts, I note that, in your written submission, you say that you favour raising housing allowance. When housing allowance is raised, how much of the benefit to people who struggle to afford housing is offset by private landlords raising rents in response?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 4 November 2021
Emma Roddick
My question is for Lorraine McGrath, but given Shelter’s focus on prevention in its contribution, Gordon MacRae might want to come in. Certain groups are more at risk of homelessness. How much of that stems from the accessibility of local authority housing and how much of it stems from the rigidity of application processes? What changes could be made to address those aspects?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 4 November 2021
Emma Roddick
Gordon MacRae, to what extent are “No DSS” listings affecting the ability of homeless people to find accommodation? What can be done to address that?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 October 2021
Emma Roddick
The difference between the cost of PIP and the cost of ADP is quite significant. Do you expect that, if social security were to be devolved in its entirety, the cost of delivering the benefits would be less?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 October 2021
Emma Roddick
My next question is for Satwat Rehman and Eilidh Dickson. Much of the evidence that we have received so far has had a focus on the importance of lived experience. In considering child poverty, is it enough to speak to the parents or do we need to hear from kids who are currently in poverty, or folk who were kids who grew up in poverty?