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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 24 November 2024
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Displaying 1551 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

It was helpful to hear that the bill could drive consistency in approach across public bodies six months out.

Susie, do you have any final comments on this line of questioning, including the suggestion that GPs and the Home Office be added to the statutory list?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

Do the other witnesses agree that we should add to the list? I do not think that we have heard from Valerie Arbuckle on that yet.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

That is helpful, because local authorities’ current statutory duty is the easy bit to analyse, but things have gone wrong by the time you get to counting those numbers.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

Valerie Arbuckle, does Police Scotland have a view on that?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

That is helpful. I will not ask any more questions, but I will reflect briefly on what you say, Suzie.

I think that you suggested last week, convener, that whether this Parliament can put a statutory duty on an organisation to have that responsibility is one thing, but if we are involved, we should at least have a voluntary arrangement with organisations. We have heard about the Home Office and GPs, and Suzie mentioned the DWP. I will not come back with any more questions, but would you like to see any other organisations on the list in relation to the duty?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

That was helpful. I am sure that colleagues will ask about resources and training later.

Moving on to Mike Callaghan, I am going to be a bit cheeky and roll my third question into what I have already asked and get Mr Callaghan to respond to all of them. Mr Callaghan, can you reflect on what you have heard from a COSLA perspective? Also, are there other bodies or individuals that should be added to the list? Suggestions that we have heard include the Home Office—that would be a voluntary partnership, of course—and, last week, general practitioners. I just want to get your reflections on what you have heard so far as well as on those suggestions.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

Good morning, everyone. I have just a couple of brief questions. The bill lists specific bodies that will have the new statutory ask and act duties placed on them, but are they the right ones? What role is there for third sector organisations in helping to implement the duties? In short, are the right organisations in the list, and how can the third sector contribute?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for your time in helping us to scrutinise the proposed legislation.

How do the relevant bodies that are listed in the bill in relation to the ask and act duty already work with local authority homelessness services to prevent homelessness? How will the new statutory duty to ask and act make a difference and improve things? I am conscious that some of the partner bodies that are listed in the bill are with us today. Maybe we could start with Susie Fitton to hear a housing association perspective.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

And that is across all public bodies.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 20 June 2024

Bob Doris

The Government will have to sharpen up its thoughts on how we do that. Suzie, do you have anything to add?