►
Description
Portfolio Questions (Virtual): Social Security and Older People
A
C
Yep,
thank
you.
Our
race
equality
action
plan,
2017-2020
outlines
activity.
We
have
undertaken
over
the
course
of
this
parliament
to
secure
better
outcomes
for
minority
ethnic
communities
in
scotland.
These
steps
are
a
vital
part
of
the
action
we
have
been
taken
towards
achieving
the
vision
that
was
set
out
in
the
race
equality
framework.
On
the
20th
of
march
2020,
we
published
a
year
two
progress,
update,
update
on
our
action
plan,
and
our
final
year
report
will
be
published
in
2021.
C
This
report
will
include
a
full
update
of
progress
towards
achieving
our
ambitions
in
the
framework.
We
will,
of
course,
need
to
pay
particular
attention
to
the
issues
that
have
been
highlighted
by
the
covert
19
pandemic
and
the
recommendations
from
our
expert
reference
group
on
cold,
19
and
ethnicity.
C
The
placements
will
allow
participants
to
develop
their
personal
professional
skills,
they
need
to
succeed
and
we
strongly
encourage
applicants
from
across
all
of
scottish
society,
and
I
think
we
will
be
leaning
heavily
on
all
of
our
organizations
to
ensure
that
young
people
know
this
is
available.
The
program
will
also
have
a
focus
on
helping
people
to
break
down
the
barriers
and
accessing
and
contributing
to
public
service
and
public
life,
and
support
will
be
available
to
take
account
of
different
needs
of
application
and
placement
stage.
C
C
Since
launch
best
start
grant,
investor
foods
have
provided
over
2.2
million
pounds
in
vital
support
to
eligible
five
households
with
children,
but
child
payment
will
open
for
applications
from
low
income
families
with
children
under
six
in
november
this
year,
and
a
significant
new
benefit
will
start
to
provide
payments
of
10
pounds
per
week
for
each
eligible
child
from
the
end
of
february.
2021.
C
C
Well,
annabelle
ewing
is
quite
right
to
point
out
the
importance
not
only
of
establishing
the
scottish
child
payment,
but
also
to
ensure
that
the
take-up
of
the
benefit
is
as
high
as
possible.
That's
why,
as
with
all
the
benefits
we
have
launched,
we
are
developing
a
very
comprehensive
communications
and
marketing
marketing
campaign
that
will
support
the
launch
of
the
application
process
and,
of
course,
this
will
continue
to
ensure
that
we
are
doing
further
work
during
those
application
windows
and
when
the
actual
payments
begin
to
be
made
at
the
end
of
february.
C
Our
approach
will
build
on
the
lessons
that
we've
learned
to
the
best
start.
Foods
best
start
grant
payments
and
our
wider
benefit
take
up
activity,
and
we
will
of
course,
keep
this
very
much
under
review
to
ensure
that
we're
doing
absolutely
everything
we
can
to
ensure
that
families
across
scotland
are
aware
of
the
benefit
and,
of
course,
that
very
much
does
include
fife
and
miss
ewing's
constituency.
C
First,
child
payment
only
two
months
later
than
was
originally
planned
and
that
two
months,
a
change
is
simply
due
to
the
difficulties
of
achieving
a
live
benefit.
A
go
live
during
the
the
covet
pandemic,
it.
That
does
not
mean
to
say
that
we
are
not
taking
very
seriously
our
responsibilities
to
ensure
that
we're
supporting
low-income
families.
At
this
time,
for
example,
110
million
pound
has
been
spent
to
tackle
food
insecurity
during
the
pandemic,
we've
more
than
doubled
the
resource
to
the
scottish
welfare
fund.
C
There's
80
million
available
for
discretionary
housing
payments,
a
10
million
pound
tenant
hardship,
loan
fund,
the
corona,
a
coronavirus
carers
allowance
supplement.
I
could
go
on
from
presiding
officer,
but
I
hope
that
gives
a
flavor
of
the
the
real
action
that
this
government
has
been
taking
it,
but
I
would
say
to
to
miss
grant
as
well.
C
I
hope
that
she
will
join
us
in
getting
more
powers
for
the
scottish
parliament
to
ensure
that
we
have
responsibility
for
low-income
benefits
up
here
in
in
whole,
rather
than
it
being
reserved
for
westminster,
so
we're
not
reliant
on
westminster
changes
which
the
westminster
government
refused
to
make,
such
as
the
the
changes
that
are
required
to
get
rid
of
the
benefit
cap,
which
has
seen
many
more
families
being
plunged
into
poverty.
During
the
recent
coronavirus
pandemic.
C
19
pandemic
has
had
a
major
impact
on
the
scottish
government
on
social
security,
scotland,
and
on
the
department
of
work
and
pensions
whose
support
we
need
to
transfer
social
security
powers.
I
set
out
my
statement
to
parliament
on
the
first
of
april
this
year.
We
are
having
to
rework
our
timetable
to
deliver
the
remaining
developed
benefits
and
to
complete
case
transfer.
This
is
an
ongoing
and
complex
exercise.
C
We
need
to
consider
the
impact
of
the
pandemic
not
only
in
our
own
services,
but
also
of
the
availability
of
health
and
social
care
professionals,
bring
their
expertise
to
the
co-design
of
disability
and
carer
benefits.
At
a
time
when
many
are
still
needed
on
the
front
line,
we
also
have
to
account
for
the
extraordinary
pressures
placed
on
the
dwp
calling
unprecedented
demand
for
universal
credit,
which
is
impacting
on
the
resources
they
have
available
to
the
devolution
program.
C
E
I
thank
the
cabinet
secretary
for
answering
note
some
that
she
will
inform
us
of
those
dates.
As
she
knows,
unpaid
carers
across
scotland
have
been
putting
in
one
of
the
toughest
shifts
during
this
pandemic,
often
without
any
break
78.
000
of
them
who
did
get
the
additional
supplement
are
so
deeply
grateful,
as
many
of
us
will
have
heard
across
scotland
for
that
support
that
many
will
have
also
lost
loved
ones
to
the
virus.
E
The
cabinet
secretary
may
be
aware
that
marie
curie
and
sue
ryder's
and
reform
scotland's
policy
proposals
of
bereavement
support
bill,
a
fund
for
training
and
education
for
carers,
returning
to
work,
a
post-caring
support
payment
and,
very
importantly,
a
full
six
months
of
carers.
Allowance
after
a
carer
is
bereaved.
Can
the
cabinet
secretary
say
if
the
government
has
responded
to
these
organizations
and
hopefully
that
it
will
be
able
to
support
at
least
some
of
these
development
proposals
and
take
them
forward?
Thank
you.
E
C
I
do
absolutely
recognize
the
role
that
carers
play
in
our
society
and
absolutely
the
challenges
that
they
face
following
the
loss
of
a
cared-for
person.
That's
an
already
incredibly
difficult
time
that
is
made
even
more
so
if
there
are
financial
challenges
following
from
that,
so
this
is
something
the
government
is
very
aware
of.
C
C
C
The
scottish
government
has
discussed
support
for
food
and
other
essential
sunday.
City
council
and
the
council
is
working
closely
with
the
sub
sector
through
their
food
and
security
network,
to
provide
food
aids,
support
to
people
experiencing
financial
barriers
to
accessing
food
and
has
engaged
with
dundee
bears
to
provide
additional
food
to
low-income
families
going
forward.
The
council
is
aiming
to
integrate
advice,
provision
with
food
aid
providers
to
ensure
people
are
getting
the
support
they
need
to
maximize
incomes
bill.
F
F
C
Well,
the
scottish
government
is
taking
very
seriously
our
responsibilities
to
ensure
that
low-income
families
are
supported.
For
example,
last
year
one
points
1.96
billion
was
invested
to
support
low
income
households
and
across
scotland,
as
has
been
mentioned
in
a
previous
answer.
We
are,
of
course,
delivering
on
the
scottish
child
payments
as
well.
That
will
support
families
throughout
dundee.
C
There
has
been
additional
funding
made
available
to
all
local
authorities
during
the
coronavirus,
a
pandemic,
and
I
would
point
to
the
the
five
million
pounds
as
just
one
example
that
has
came
from
the
community
funding
package.
So
that's
just
one
of
the
funding
packages
that
has
been
available
to
the
council,
which
has
went
to
organizations
in
that
area.
C
But
again,
I
hope
mr
bowman
would
recognize
the
importance
of
supporting
low-income
families
at
all
times,
not
just
during
this
pandemic,
and
I
hope
he
would
join
with
me
in
ensuring
that
low-income
benefits,
which
are
remain
reserved
to
the
westminster
government,
are
put
at
an
adequate
level
that
we
support
the
real
living
wage.
That
will
get
people
out
of
poverty
and
a
fair
work
agenda.
C
The
new
job
start
payment,
which
we
introduced
on
the
17th
of
august
2020,
will
support
all
eligible
young
people
who
apply
to
social
security.
Scotland,
for
assistance,
including
those
in
cathcart
job
start
payment
is
a
cash
payment
of
250
pounds
or
400
pounds
for
a
young
person
with
children.
It
will
help
approximately
5
000
young
people
across
scotland
every
year
to
meet
expenses
before
they
receive
their
first
salary
and
that
money
can
be
used
for
any
purpose,
and
young
people
have
told
us
they
are
most
likely
to
spend
that
on
travel,
clothing
and
food.
G
Do
thank
the
cabinet
secretary
for
that
answer.
The
job
prospects
of
young
people
in
my
constituency
have
been
hit
hard
by
this
pandemic,
but
the
announcement
of
extra
support
to
help
our
young
people
into
work
really
couldn't
come
at
a
better
time,
but
what
other
supporters
available
for
young
people
who
might
be
experiencing
unemployment
in
these
days,
kevin
secretary.
C
Ministers
have
been
active
in
ensuring
a
human
rights-based
approach
to
the
development
of
our
policy
response,
the
legislative
approach
and
range
of
guidance
in
relation
to
this
unprecedented
threat.
Public
life,
I've
held
round
tables
with
older
people's
strategic
action
forum
to
ensure
our
responses
have
been
directly
informed
by
lived
experience,
whilst
ensuring
that
both
the
standards
and
the
principles
of
human
rights
are
integrated
into
all
of
our
policy.
Making.
H
I
thank
the
minister
for
that
reply,
but
the
sad
reality
is
for
older
people
living
in
care
homes.
It
seems
their
human
rights
have
been
an
afterthought.
Almost
half
of
our
deaths
have
happened
in
care
homes.
We
knew
those
people
that
lived
in
care
homes
were
the
most
vulnerable
to
the
virus,
and
yet
47
patients
who
were
covered
positive
were
transferred
into
care
homes.
We
were
slow
to
set
up
testing.
We
still
have
gaps
testing.
Instead,
sometimes
we
demonized
healthcare
workers.
C
The
scottish
government
has
always
placed
the
upholding
of
human
rights
at
the
heart
of
its
approach
and
since
the
start
of
this
pandemic,
our
priority
has
been
to
save
people's
lives
wherever
they
live.
Framework
of
legislation
protects
the
rights
of
individuals
receiving
care,
and
throughout
this
pandemic,
we
have
worked
closely
with
our
colleagues
in
the
nhs
and
local
government
and
with
a
variety
of
voluntary
and
independent
sectors
to
ensure
that
the
needs
and
rights
of
residents
and
care
homes
are
able
to
be
met.
C
The
covered
19
framework
for
decision
making
in
scotland's
route
map
through
and
out
of
the
crisis,
provides
an
indication
of
the
order
in
which
we
will
carefully
gradually
seek
to
change
these
restrictions.
The
root
map
includes
overarching
commitments
to
human
rights,
equality
and
social
justice
and
sets
out
ways
in
which
those
principles
have
been
applied
in
the
decision-making
process.
All
of
our
decisions
on
covert
19
response
have
been
guided
by
the
scientific
advice
available
at
the
time,
and
we
continue
to
tailor
that
response.
I
C
Thank
you
f
for
that
that
question
and
par
a
huge
part
of
the
work
that
we
have
been
doing
working
alongside
local
communities
and
local
community
organizations,
is
to
support
people
and
ensure
that
all
of
those
intersections
are
are
dealt
with
so,
whether
it's
older
veterans,
you
know
older
minor
ethnic
people,
are
older,
lgbti
people,
we've
tailored
our
response
to
that
now.
The
minister
for
veterans
is
not
very
much
involved
in
all
this
and
I'd
be
happy
to
pass
on
morris
corey's
comments
so
that
he
can
feedback.
C
The
minister
for
older
people,
inequalities
has
had
regular
meetings
with
the
older
people
strategic
action
forum
to
ensure
our
report
is
directly
informed
by
live
experience.
The
immediate
priorities
fund
has
ensured
that
members
of
the
forum
received
over
1.16
million
to
provide
direct
support
for
older
people
with
over
a
hundred
and
170
000
going
to
support
older
minority
ethnic
people
to
eat.
J
Thank
you
thank
the
minister
for
that
response,
but
as
the
the
cabinet
secretary
aware
that
before
the
lockdown
eat
well
age
well
estimated
over
a
hundred
thousand
older
people
in
scotland
were
at
risk
lovers
suffering
from
malnutrition,
and
this
has
undoubtedly
been
exhausted.
Rated
by
covert
19
with
vulnerable
older
people
experiencing
difficulty
in
accessing
food
and
the
continued
closure
of
day
centers
to
provide
lunches
along
with
isolation
and
loneliness
which
impacts
on
older
people.
J
C
Well,
the
issue
about
the
right
to
food,
and
indeed
all
rights
are
being
looked
at
by
the
national
task
force
for
human
rights
leadership.
The
task
force
is
developing
detailed
proposals
for
a
new
statute
to
the
human
rights
framework
for
scotland,
including
the
right
as
an
essential
part
of
the
overall
rights
of
living.
C
Currently
considering
that
approach,
it's
currently
considering
the
approach
it
will
take
to
specific
rights,
and
that
does
include
civil,
political,
economic,
social
and
cultural
rights,
and
very
much
does
want
to
investigate
how
we
can
protect
people
from
poverty
and
the
social
renewal.
Advisory
board
is
also
something
which
I'd
hear
alongside
my
colleague
aileen
campbell,
and
that
has
a
policy
circle.
That's
specifically
looking
at
aspects
around
food
and
I'm
sure
there
will
be
recommendations
that
come
from
that
circle
that
will
feed
into
the
discussions
that
the
advisory
board
are
having.
C
Thank
you,
president
officer.
I
I
have
been
kept
fully
appraised
with
regards
to
the
restrictions
on
visiting
self-isolating,
older
people
and
taking
the
opportunity
on
many
occasions
to
feed
in
the
views
of
older
people
from
regular
engagement
with
our
older
people,
strategic
action
forum,
restrictions
are
guided
by
the
signs
controlling
the
transmission
of
the
coronavirus
and
older
people
have
been
taken
into
account
as
restrictions
have
been
eased.
K
C
Thank
you.
No
we're
absolutely
very
well
aware
of
the
impact
on
older
people
at
that
lockdown
has
created
and
specifically
in
our
care
homes
as
well.
We
recognize
the
sacrifices
other
people
and
care
homes
have
made,
whilst
isolating
so.
On
the
25th
of
june,
we
published
a
plan
and
guidance
to
support
a
stage
approach
to
return
to
care
home
visiting,
because
we
realize
the
value
of
that
care
homes
are
now
facilitating
controlled
outdoor
and
indoor
visits
where
it
is
safe.
C
To
do
so,
other
visiting
options
will
be
opened
up,
which
will
help
two,
I
hope,
connect
many
more
people
to
their
loved
ones.
Van
nett
makes
an
excellent
point
about
that
connection
and
how
important
that
is.
The
further
easing
of
restrictions
of
communal
activities
inside
care
homes
and
a
return
to
visiting
services
to
care
homes
was
announced
by
the
cabinet
secretary
on
the
3rd
of
september,
and
certain
communal
activities
and
services
will
resume
from
the
7th
of
september
and
a
lot
of
those
in
routine.
C
Face
defense
care
from
health
and
social
care
professionals,
including
podiatrists,
physiotherapists,
optometrists,
dentists
and
as
well
as
other
communal
activities
from
residents,
will
resume
from
the
7th
of
september,
and
I
think,
hopefully,
alice
alexander
burnett
will
be
pleased
to
hear
that
and
articulate
those
to
the
constituents
who
has
contacted
him
and
if
he's
got
specific
issues
that
he
wishes
to
raise
further.
I'm
more
than
happy
that
to
ensure
that
we
do
that,
and
I
work
closely
with
the
cabinet
secretary
for
health
to
respond.