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 1054 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
I am grateful for that answer, cabinet secretary. Perhaps it would be helpful to get updates as we go along.
Has there been any analysis of the change in the rental market as a result of the emergency legislation that was introduced last year? Is the same amount of social temporary accommodation still available, particularly in Edinburgh and Glasgow, or are landlords moving away and selling their property? Has any work been done to analyse that?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
I am conscious of the time, but, if it is okay, I want to ask just one more question. Do you have any comments on the potential use of the community bus fund, its level of funding and how it might fit in with what we are going forward with? Paul White might have something to say about that.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
I want to move us on slightly with regard to where we are now. How has the end of Covid support funds affected the availability and affordability of bus services? With those support funds now gone, what has been the impact on rural and urban communities? Perhaps Paul White could start.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
Thank you.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
Good morning, everybody. I declare that I have a concessionary bus pass due to my disability.
I am interested in the last point that Paul White made, about how much the bus companies get per journey if someone uses their disabled pass or their younger person’s pass. Is that figure going up in relation to the amount of money that it costs a bus company? My understanding is that the calculation disadvantages certain bus routes, because there are not enough stops or they travel further. Would you like that to be looked at again, or are we at a place where the bus companies can make it work?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
I go back to Mick Hogg’s point about the closing of stations and the non-manning, or non-staffing, of stations. What response have you had around that point, particularly from people with a disability? If they arrive at a station and there is nobody there, how are they meant to cope if they need help? Has the question been discussed of what people are meant to do in practice?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
Is there a marked difference between rural communities and urban or city communities, or is there a similar picture throughout Scotland?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
As the deputy convener said, we are here to look at child poverty, in particular. What effect has subsidising buses had? Is that a way of helping people to get to work or to school, which helps with employability?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
I will just follow that up. Obviously, Edinburgh is the best place to live—[Laughter.]—and Edinburgh buses probably provide the best service of anywhere in Scotland. The service is owned by the three local authorities, but it makes major profit. If Edinburgh can do it, why can other cities not do it?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2023
Jeremy Balfour
Do the other two witnesses have anything to add?