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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 16 November 2024
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Displaying 1054 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Justice Priorities

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

Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

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

Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

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

Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

Meeting date: 7 September 2023

Jeremy Balfour

Thank you.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

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

Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

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

Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

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

Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

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

Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

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

Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

Meeting date: 7 September 2023

Jeremy Balfour

Do the other two witnesses have anything to add?