Tag: Holyrood

Scottish Government publishes Housing Emergency Action Plan

PLAN TO END CHLDREN LIVING IN UNSUITABLE ACCOMMODATION, SUPPORT VULNERABLE GROUPS AND BOOST INVESTMENT

Cabinet Secretary for Housing Màiri McAllan has published the Housing Emergency Action Plan to tackle the housing crisis.

The plan focuses on three key areas – ending children living in unsuitable accommodation, supporting the housing needs of vulnerable groups and supporting growth and investment in the housing sector.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, the Housing Secretary set out a number of key commitments, including:

  • A new commitment to invest up to £4.9 billion over the next four years, delivering around 36,000 affordable homes by 2029-30 and providing a home for up to 24,000 children.
  • Doubling investment in acquisitions this year to £80 million, which will help take between 600-800 children out of temporary accommodation.
  • Implement Awaab’s Law from March 2026, starting with damp and mould, subject to parliamentary approval, to ensure landlords promptly address issues hazardous to tenants.
  • A new £1 million national ‘fund to leave’ to provide financial support for up to 1,200 women and their children to leave an abusive partner.
  • Unlocking land for housing in rural areas by working with the Scottish National Investment Bank, landowners and public bodies
  • A new Ministerial direction to planning authorities.

Ms McAllan said: “Tackling the housing emergency will be a cornerstone in our efforts to achieve the Scottish Government’s key priority of eradicating child poverty. I am determined this action plan will deliver positive and lasting change.

“At the heart of my mission is ensuring children are not spending time in unsuitable accommodation or long periods in temporary accommodation; that the housing needs of vulnerable communities are met and that we create the optimum conditions for confidence and investment in Scotland’s housing sector.

“Our efforts so far since declaring a housing emergency have seen 2,700 families with children into a permanent home, up to December 2024. Our action plan will see tens of thousands more families have a place they can call home.

“Since I took up the role of Cabinet Secretary I have listened to calls from the sector for multi-year funding to give housebuilders more long-term certainty.

“Today I have committed to investing up to £4.9 billion in affordable homes over the next four years. This long-term certainty and increase in funding will support delivery of around 36,000 affordable homes and provide up to 24,000 children with a warm, safe home.

“We cannot tackle this emergency alone though and I need everyone from across the private and public sector to pull together and deliver this plan to ensure everyone in Scotland has access to a safe, warm and affordable home.”

Crisis Scotland’s Head of Policy and Communications Maeve McGoldrick said: “We welcome today’s announcement. Homelessness is the most acute form of poverty, and we see the damage it does through our frontline services every day.

“Investment in new housing will help prevent more people being forced from their homes, while the expansion of Housing First will provide a vital route out of homelessness for people who have been let down by services for too long.

“We can’t allow more people to be trapped in the limbo of the homelessness system– we need to act now to help build a Scotland where everyone has a safe, secure place to call home.”

Scottish Women’s Aid CEO Dr Marsha Scott said: “Scottish Women’s Aid warmly welcomes announcement of a roll-out of the original Fund to Leave pilots to the rest of Scotland.

“Every day we and our local Women’s Aid services see women and children struggling to get free of an abuser.  The Fund to Leave offers a critical helping hand when women and children need it most. 

‘Leaving’ is difficult and dangerous, and the Fund to Leave is such an important step to making leaving and staying free from an abuser a reality across Scotland.” 

Right There works to prevent people becoming homeless and separated from their loved ones, and believes everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

Commenting on the plan, CEO, Janet Haugh said: “Scotland is in the midst of a national housing emergency which needs ambitious and robust action to reverse it.

“We are encouraged that today’s plan recognises the crisis our country is in, with over 53,000 people currently without a home, and over 10,000 children living in temporary accommodation.

“We welcome the focus on ending children’s time in unsuitable or temporary accommodation. Every child deserves a safe, stable place to call home – it is the foundation of wellbeing, learning and hope for the future.

“We know that a house alone is not enough. The right support around people – whether they are rebuilding after domestic abuse, facing poverty, or at risk of homelessness – is vital to turn housing into a home.

“We see every day the pressure on families and individuals waiting far too long in temporary accommodation. While progress is welcome, the reality is that thousands still need urgent solutions.

“We stand ready to play our part. Local organisations like Right There can be powerful delivery partners, bringing together housing, support and community. Sustainable investment and genuine collaboration will be critical.

“Housing is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about fairness, dignity, and giving people the chance to thrive. The Housing Emergency Action Plan will only succeed if it holds true to those values.”

Tackling Scotland’s Housing Emergency – gov.scot

Behind the Festival’s Curtains: The Cost to Workers, Residents and Artists

Every August, Edinburgh transforms into the world’s cultural epicentre, with festivals filling every corner of the city (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP).

This year, however, the stage will be busier than ever. Alongside the usual theatre lovers and comedy fans, the capital will welcome an additional influx of visitors as thousands arrive for concerts by Oasis and AC/DC.

It’s a month that draws global attention and economic opportunity. Yet, beneath the spotlight lies a more pressing truth: a festival economy that, while world-renowned, places intense pressure on the very infrastructure residents rely on year-round.

Nowhere is that strain more visible than in housing. When tourists arrive, hotels and B&Bs fill up fast. For people already living in vulnerability, August can mean being pushed further into homelessness. Shelter Scotland warns that major events create a “bottleneck” in temporary accommodation, with people displaced at short notice to make room for tourists.

However, the pressures do not end with housing. Edinburgh’s cultural season is built on the dedication of stage crews, technicians, hospitality staff, and many others who work tirelessly in the supporting industries.

Yet for many, the reality is long, exhausting hours for very modest pay. Often, those hours come under contracts that offer little or no security. With low wages, unstable work, and the seasonal nature of these jobs, it’s a constant struggle to make ends meet, even as the city’s economy thrives on their efforts.

Emerging artists face similar barriers. Simply being in Edinburgh in August can be a financial gamble; some take on debt to perform, while others are priced out entirely. When workers can’t afford to work and artists can’t afford to perform, diversity shrinks, innovation slows, and the cultural richness on which our festivals rely begins to erode.

The Scottish Government is quick to celebrate record visitor numbers, but slower to address the inequalities behind them. A fair cultural strategy cannot be measured by ticket sales alone. It must guarantee that no one is pushed into unsuitable accommodation and ensure fair pay and decent conditions for festival workers, as well as provide real support for emerging artists so they can take part without risking financial hardship. 

Last Friday, I hosted a conversation at the Festival of Politics, “Dreaming of a Fairer Future for Culture,” alongside Culture Counts and a panel of inspiring voices from across Scotland’s creative sector.

Edinburgh’s festivals are a treasure, but pride alone will not protect them. Their future depends on whether we confront the pressures that threaten them and act decisively to safeguard the people and communities who make them possible.

If Scotland is to remain a cultural leader, it must honour not just the art on stage, but the lives and livelihoods that keep the curtain rising each year.

Scottish Labour MSP Colin Smyth charged over indecent images

Labour MSP Colin Smyth has been arrested and charged over possession of indecent images of children.

The 52-year-old, who has represented South Scotland at Holyrood since 2016, was arrested at a property in Dumfries earlier this month.

Smyth has been suspended by Scottish Labour and is now listed as an independent on the parliament website.

He is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court at a later date.

Earlier this week former Fife Labour councillor David Graham was jailed for sexual offences against a teenage girl.

Give Me Some Credit: Some free tickets still available

FRIDAY 22nd AUGUST at SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT – FREE EVENT

There are still some free tickets available for Friday’s ‘Give Me Some Credit’ exhibition at @ScotParl#FestivalofPolitics.

https://festivalofpolitics.citizenticket.co.uk/events/festival-of-politics/give-me-some-credit/

Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer pays tribute to the late Rt Hon Sir George Reid

The Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, has paid tribute to former Presiding Officer and MSP, Rt Hon Sir George Reid, following his death in the early hours of Tuesday 12 August.

The Rt Hon Sir George Reid served as Deputy Presiding Officer from 1999 to 2003, and then as Presiding Officer from 2003 to 2007. He was elected as MSP for the Mid Scotland and Fife region from 1999 to 2003 and then for the Ochil constituency from 2003 to 2007.

During his time as Presiding Officer, he oversaw the completion of the new Scottish Parliament building, opening in 2004. He was also MP for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire from 1974 to 1979.

A Book of Condolence has been opened and flags at the Scottish Parliament lowered as a mark of respect.

On his passing, the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, said: “On behalf of all at the Scottish Parliament, I express our deepest sadness at the death of our second Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Sir George Reid.

“He’ll be remembered not only for bringing the Holyrood construction project to completion, but for building confidence and ambition in our young Parliament.

“A proud son of Clackmannanshire and an internationalist by outlook, he was determined to put Holyrood on the map at home and abroad, and very much succeeded.  By the time he left office, Holyrood was established at the centre of public life in Scotland and over a million people had visited to see for themselves the new Parliament in action.

“The story of devolution and the early years of our Parliament will remember George fondly and with gratitude. My deepest condolences to Daphne, his daughter and grandchildren and his many friends and colleagues. Sir George was welcoming and supportive to me, in Holyrood and outwith. He will be very much missed.

“Flags at Holyrood have been lowered as a mark of respect.”

Kate Forbes to leave Holyrood

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has announced that she will not stand in next May’s Holyrood elections.

Ms Forbes said: ‘After careful thought over recess, I’ve decided not to seek re-election to @scotparl next year. I’ve written to the First Minister this morning (see below).

‘I will continue to serve the First Minister, the Government and my constituents to the best of my ability until May 2026.’

Organisations gather to support Sarah Boyack’s Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill

AN END TO SHORT-TERM THINKING?

Stakeholders and organisations have gathered at a roundtable in support of Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack’s Member’s Bill as it aims to put an end to short-term thinking in policy development.

This meeting comes as a consultation has been launched into the bill by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.

Ms Boyack’s bill would create a clear and legal definition of wellbeing and sustainable development and embed those into the decision-making process.

It would also establish a Future Generations Commissioner to ensure public bodies and government are complying with new national outcomes as well as these newly established duties.

Ms Boyack hosted the roundtable alongside representatives from Carnegie.

Commenting on the roundtable, Sarah Boyack said: “It was great to host such a positive and constructive discussion about my Member’s Bill with so many stakeholders.

“I am glad to see such widespread support for my bill among the sustainability and wellbeing sectors.

“I hope that this consultation will lead members of the committee and Parliament to support this bill and implement it into law.

“We have the opportunity to truly imbed long-term thinking into the decision-making process and create a more just and sustainable Scotland for decades to come.”

SNP Government is supporting students, says local MSP

As pupils across the city await their exam results, Gordon Macdonald MSP has highlighted the support offered by the SNP which ‘allows all those seeking further education opportunities to seize them.’

From August 1st, tuition fees in England and Wales have risen to £9,535, with the average debt for students graduating now an eye-watering £53,000.

In Scotland, the SNP made university tuition free for all Scottish students, with tailored support for care experienced students worth up to £11,400.

In addition, there is more than £100 million funding to support Modern and Foundation Apprenticeships with around 400,000 apprenticeship opportunities provided to young people across the country since 2008.

Gordon Macdonald MSP said: “In Labour-run England and Wales, tuition fees and student debt are mounting. 

“But here in Edinburgh students can attend university for free, with extra support for those who need it as well as funding for alternative pathways. 

“We are making more opportunities available to young people while the Labour Party lumps costs on the next generation.

“That’s the difference made with the SNP in government.”

Lorna Slater launches leadership re-election campaign

Scottish Green Lothian MSP and current party Co-leader, Lorna Slater has officially announced she is running for re-election in the party’s internal election process.

“I am re-standing to bring my years of experience of countering the anti-immigrant, anti-trans, and climate denial rhetoric, to the debates ahead of the Holyrood and local authority elections,” Ms Slater said.

Lorna Slater has been co-leader since 2019 with MSP colleague Patrick Harvie who is stepping down from the role after 17 years. She believes this leadership election is pivotal and will shape the future of the party in the upcoming election years.

She said: “We are on track to win the largest numbers of MSPs and Councillors ever, and with that we can secure the policies and values we believe Scotland deserves.”

Slater’s leadership experience is built on a foundation of tangible achievements. As one of the first Green Government Ministers in the UK, she has led transformative changes including the national upgrade to Scotland’s recycling infrastructure and the creation of the groundbreaking Nature Restoration Fund, which is restoring natural habitats across Scotland.

Ms Slater said: “It was my work in Government that ensured that every organisation in receipt of Scottish Government grants, has to pay the living wage, increasing the wages of thousands of workers.

“My experience as a Minister makes me especially effective, because I know exactly how to press Ministers on their decisions and to follow up when the Government drops a commitment.”

Looking ahead, Lorna Slater notes the issues important to her and the Greens: “In the next term I intend to hold the Scottish Government to account on the cost of living, housing, climate and LGBT+ issues.

“I will continue work to reform Council tax and give Councils more powers, including those to raise funds for infrastructure and tackling the housing emergency.”

Ms Slater concluded: “ It has been my privilege to represent the Scottish Greens in our Parliament since 2021. We can build on our successes and build the Scotland that we want to see.”

Votes open to members on 13th August and will close on 22nd August.

The new co-leader term will start on 1st September.

Untold story of how one of Scotland’s most controversial public buildings was created, unveiled in new Holyrood exhibition

Pic-Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament

A new exhibition which showcases how Enric Miralles, Holyrood’s lead architect, brought to life his vision for a Parliament ‘growing out of the land’ has gone on display at the Scottish Parliament.

The exhibition, Enric Miralles: Creating the Scottish Parliament and other stories by Benedetta Tagliabue and EMBT, will be on display from 31 July until 30 October and entry is free.

Barcelona-based architects EMBT, co-founded by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue in collaboration with Edinburgh-based architects RMJM, won the international competition to design the Scottish Parliament in 1998.

Their vision was to create a new Scottish Parliament building that embodied the values of Scotland – a space rooted in its landscape, traditions and people.

Many of the original designs featured in this exhibition will be going on display for the first time, including hand-drawn concept images, sketches, photo collages, site studies and competition boards. They formed part of the rich creative process led by Enric and completed by the EMBT team under Benedetta, following his untimely death in 2000.

The exhibition illustrates the importance of drawing, photography and writing as part of Miralles’ creative practice. From the early inspiration behind the famous ‘upturned boats’ on the roof, the ponds symbolising the lochs of the Scottish landscape and the semi-circular debating chamber, the impressive centrepiece, are just some of the design concepts explored within the exhibition.

The late Queen officially opened the Parliament in October 2004, with the building going on to win many accolades for its architecture and it continues to attract thousands of visitors each year.

Deputy Presiding Officer, Annabelle Ewing MSP said: “20 years on from the opening of the Scottish Parliament, people in Scotland have embraced this building and the vision that Enric Miralles had for it.

“That vision was about more than aesthetics. It reflects principles which still guide our work today – openness, accessibility and transparency.

“This exhibition highlights Enric’s creative process and how the Parliament he envisioned on paper was brought to life, something which sadly he would never see completed.  EMBT along with RMJM created a national legislature, providing a home to Scottish politics and changing Edinburgh’s landscape forever.” 

Benedetta Tagliabue, co-founder of EMBT said: “I was sure this Parliament would be loved by the people, and now this is happening.

“20 years has passed from the opening of the building and I am so happy to come back to Edinburgh and see how beautifully the building is kept and cared for.

“I hope people will come and discover how the building was conceived and see the many art pieces on display here for the first time. Including original work, photographs and hand drawn designs by Enric which were used to create this landmark”.

The EMBT studio was founded on an ethos that architectural design should enrich the day-to-day lives and experiences of people.

To showcase this philosophy, the exhibition also includes a selection of works developed by EMBT, such as the Santa Caterina Market, Hafencity, Kálida Sant Pau Maggie’s Centre and Parco del Mare Rimini.