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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 29 December 2024
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Displaying 1153 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Scottish Benefits Independent Advocacy

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

We know that the number of complaints to Social Security Scotland has risen by more than 400 per cent. Are you already getting feedback on why that is?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Scottish Benefits Independent Advocacy

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

Will the speak out forums that you are planning to develop be included in capturing why people are making complaints and whether they are about the system or outcomes?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Scottish Benefits Independent Advocacy

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

Good morning, and thank you for joining us.

A lot of my questions have already been touched on. Would it be possible for the committee to be provided with information on where advocates are based and the regions that they cover, specifically when they are working across health board areas?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Scottish Benefits Independent Advocacy

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

Perhaps you could write to us with that information, and, if there is an on-going opportunity to do so, you could update us on recruitment so that we can see what provision looks like. That would be helpful.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Scottish Benefits Independent Advocacy

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

Yes—and about the conversations that you are having with clients.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Scottish Benefits Independent Advocacy

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

Yes—that is important.

Finally, with expansion plans and in the current market, are you finding it difficult to recruit advocates who have the necessary experience? What sort of training have you developed?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Scottish Benefits Independent Advocacy

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

Either the client or the advocate who is going to visit a client.

Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Social Justice and Social Security Committee: Joint Committee

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

Good morning. In what we are examining, a gap exists in relation to housing and homelessness. I have raised that issue with the minister a few times, but it is still not being addressed. Frankly, the Government is also not talking about the housing crisis.

This week’s statistics show that, of the deaths of 222 homeless people, half were drug deaths. Ministers seem to have taken their eyes off the ball in that area, but we need action and supported housing models to be put in place. What is the Government doing about that?

Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Social Justice and Social Security Committee: Joint Committee

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

I shadow Ms Robison and—let us be honest—the housing first model is sometimes part of the problem. Often, people who have chaotic lives are not able to hold down a tenancy, and that sets them up to fail. I have asked why we do not fund the building and putting in place of more supported accommodation, because we should have done so years ago.

I hope that, if she has not already seen it, the minister will visit Rowan Alba in Edinburgh with me at some point. The charity provides accommodation—supported living—for individuals with alcohol brain damage, which stops them being homeless. In Edinburgh, 50 people who could be in that type of accommodation are on a waiting list, but nothing is happening to take that forward.

There are also 1,095 children living in temporary accommodation in Edinburgh, and I know from my casework that they are developing acute substance abuse issues. We need to see a shift in that regard. Housing first is a good policy, but it is not delivering for that group of people and it needs to be rethought.

09:15  

Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Social Justice and Social Security Committee: Joint Committee

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

Meeting date: 24 November 2022

Miles Briggs

Have I got time to ask an additional question, convener?