Fairer Scotland

  • Putting people first in Scotland’s social security system

    22nd February 2019 by

    Recent press stories about the DWP using deflection scripts to get callers off the phone was disappointing but not surprising. We know from our own research that almost three in five people rated their experience of the current DWP system as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. Since taking on this post, and speaking to users of...

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  • Sharing views to tackle hate crime

    22nd February 2019 by

    Our public consultation on hate crime legislation is closing this week (Sunday 24 February). We’re looking for your views on a number of issues including how best to tackle gender based prejudice and misogyny. Over the past few months, we’ve also been running a series of roadshows across the country and we’d like to thank...

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  • Guest blog: Ann Loughrey, Chair of the Independent Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel

    20th February 2019 by

    In this day and age, it is unacceptable that people in Scotland can’t heat their homes properly or pay for the energy to cook their food.  I am proud that as a nation we are tackling this issue.  It is a challenging but exciting time because today the Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland)...

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  • Fire and smoke alarm standards

    12th February 2019 by

    Back in June 2017, following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower, we took immediate steps to establish a Ministerial Working Group (MWG) on Building and Fire Safety. The Group was established to offer public reassurance and ensure all lessons learned from Grenfell were applied here in Scotland, and to help ensure people are safe in...

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  • Good progress made on Funeral Costs Plan

    8th February 2019 by

    Coping with the death of a loved one is undoubtedly one of the most stressful things we will ever have to deal with.  That’s even more difficult if you are also worrying about how to pay for the funeral. Most of us will arrange a funeral no more than a handful of times.  So it...

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  • Guest blog: Phil Wray, Head of Projects at Glasgow City Mission

    5th February 2019 by

    Working together to tackle rough sleeping Most of us have had the heart-rending experience of walking through a city on a cold winter morning past a figure in a sleeping bag tucked into a doorway. None of us wants a Scotland where this happens. In 2010, Glasgow City Mission established the Glasgow Winter Night Shelter,...

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  • Breaking down barriers to end homelessness – by Kevin Stewart MSP

    1st February 2019 by

    Everyone should have a secure warm place to call home – it’s one of the most important factors in any person’s quality of life. Our Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan sets the direction for real and lasting change. As part of this, we have just launched a consultation on the current local connection and intentionality...

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  • A look back over the year…

    8th January 2019 by

    Last year, the Scottish Government put in place some world-leading actions to break down the barriers that cause poverty and inequality. When I joined the Cabinet last June I was able to build on the significant legacy left by my predecessor Angela Constance.  Following the passing of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act in late 2017,...

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  • Access to Free Sanitary Products

    4th January 2019 by

    I’m proud to be part of a Government that has ensured students at schools, colleges and universities have access to free sanitary products. The Scottish government was the first in the world to make products available to students as part of a £5.2m scheme to tackle period poverty. Nobody should suffer the indignity of struggling...

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  • A Visit to Glasgow’s Winter Night Shelter

    31st December 2018 by

    I want Scotland to be a place where no-one faces the dangerous prospect of sleeping rough and where everyone has a place they can call home.  Over the last year we have put in place a number of measures – both practical and financial – to make sure we do everything we can to protect...

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