Fairer Scotland

  • Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell’s letter to Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp

    27th September 2020 by

    Thank you for your letter of 15 September about asylum support cessations. Your decision to restart the move on process for people with positive asylum decisions, who are permitted to work and to access other housing provision, is to be welcomed, as this will enable them to get on with establishing their lives here with...

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  • Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell’s letter to the Local Government and Communities Committee

    24th September 2020 by

    Dear James, I am writing to you to provide an update on our investment to support the people of Scotland during the Covid-19 pandemic, backed by an initial £350 million I announced through the Communities funding package on 18 March. As the Committee will be aware, councils, charities and community groups, have been supported by...

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  • Green infrastructure and sustainable development 

    18th September 2020 by

    The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has made many of us reflect on the importance and value of the homes we live in and the places where we live, work, shop and socialise. As we come out of this pandemic, instead of just getting back to the way things were before, we have a fresh...

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  • Cash to help young people into work

    17th August 2020 by

    Young unemployed people, from Monday 17th August, can apply to get £250 to help with the costs of starting a new job. I’ve heard from young people about the challenges of finding work – a job offer is one of many hurdles but not the last. Some are then faced with preparation costs they simply can’t...

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  • Are you eligible for more support?

    29th July 2020 by

    Opinion piece by Cabinet Secretary for Social Security, Shirley-Anne Somerville. From this week, thousands of families across Scotland will start to get letters telling them they are entitled to new Scottish benefits. This is a first in Scotland and shows that when it comes to social security – we’re doing things differently. We’re taking information...

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  • Renewed commitment to ending homelessness

    15th July 2020 by

    The coronavirus outbreak has had significant implications for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those who were rough sleeping.  We acted quickly to move people off the streets and into a place of safety but our work is not over.  The pandemic has shown us how important it is to have a home that is warm, safe...

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  • TV licences for over 75s

    15th July 2020 by

    Minister for Older People Christina McKelvie has written to the Culture Secretary, strongly urging the UK Government to take responsibility and fund free TV licences for the over 75s. The full text of the letter is below. Dear Oliver, I write to you to express my deep concern regarding the announcement by the BBC on...

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  • Communities Secretary thanks lockdown community food heroes

    9th July 2020 by

    Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell has thanked charities and local authorities for their “incredible” work to help people across Scotland access food and other support during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Speaking following meetings with charities including Cash for Kids and The Food Train to hear about their achievements over the lockdown period and the specific...

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  • Children and young people able to play sport again

    28th June 2020 by

    Children aren’t renowned for taking a keen interest in politics but I’m sure that many of them (and their parents) will have rejoiced at the news emerging from Holyrood this week, when the First Minister announced a date for the resumption of organised sport. Those children and young people – like the rest of us...

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  • What kind of Scotland do we want to see post-lockdown?

    26th June 2020 by

    The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has made many of us reflect on the importance and the value of the places where we live, work, shop and socialise. Now as we begin to come out of lockdown, instead of just getting things back to the way they were before, we have a new opportunity to...

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