Homelessness Bill - Stage 2 completed

Refugees could benefit from SCSH supported amendments

The Social Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament today completed their stage 2 debate on the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Bill. The final stage - a full debate in the Parliament - will be completed before the Scottish Parliament elections.

A number of amendments supported by SCSH were passed by the Social Justice Committee. In particular, and despite Executive arguments to the contrary, the Committee passed Robert Brown’s amendment ensuring that refugees would not be deemed to have a local connection with a local authority they were dispersed to. Refugees are not able to choose where they are dispersed to and Robert’s amendment reflects that local authorities should take account of this. Essentially, this means that Refugees housed in National Asylum Support Service (NASS) Accommodation will not be deemed to have a local connection with that area.

Karen Whitefield’s amendment was also passed, ensuring that it is not just a local authority’s own housing support services that must be used to discharge duties under the Bill, but that they can use the housing support services provided by others.

Deputy Social Justice Minister Des McNulty also gave assurances that mechanisms to include refugees as a ‘priority need’ group in their own right would also be explored, using either section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 or future guidance. The Deputy Minister also agreed to look further into Linda Fabiani’s amendment at stage 3, enabling local authorities to take as wide a view as possible of the term ‘violence’, in determining those who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, as a result of ‘violence’.

SCSH Policy Officer, Dr Andrew Waugh, said

"SCSH is delighted that two of the amendments we have supported have passed stage two and the deputy minister has given further assurances on another two. We urge all MSPs to support these amendments and pass the Bill at stage 3.