The Scottish Government announced the creation of a Scottish Welfare Fund to take over the administration of community care grants and crisis grants when United Kingdom-wide Social Fund provision was abolished in April 2013. It said that an additional £9 million would be allocated in 2013-14, reversing funding cuts by central government in recent years.
Source: Press release 21 October 2012, Scottish Government
Links: Scottish Government press release | Poverty Alliance press release
Date: 2012-Oct
A think-tank report said that 24,000 families in Scotland – 4 per cent of the total population of families with children – faced severe disadvantage (defined as having four or more disadvantages out of a list of seven that included low income, worklessness, no qualifications, and ill-health). Unmarried households with children were 6 times more likely to be severely disadvantaged than married households (8.5 per cent compared with 1.4 per cent). Households experiencing severe disadvantage were also more likely to live in large urban areas (50 per cent) and social rented housing (77 per cent).
Source: Louise Bazalgette, Matt Barnes, and Chris Lord, A Wider Lens, Demos
Links: Report | Demos press release | Scotsman report
Date: 2012-Oct
The equality and human rights watchdog in Scotland published a rapid review of place-based policies and equality, highlighting their relevance for Scotland. Policies that were aimed at tackling poverty in the most deprived areas did not always benefit the poorest people, particularly those in minority communities. Although many of those experiencing the greatest poverty did live in the poorest areas, some did not. This meant that policies that targeted particular areas, or 'place-based policies', did not always benefit everyone equally.
Source: Peter Matthews, Gina Netto, and Kirsten Besemer, 'Hard-to-Reach' or 'Easy-to-Ignore'? A rapid review of place-based policies and equality, Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland
Links: Report | EHRC press release
Date: 2012-Sep
An MSP began consultation on a proposed Bill to require private sector employees working on public sector contracts to be paid the 'living wage'; and/or to require Scottish Government to prepare and report to the Parliament on a strategic plan to promote the living wage.
Source: John Park MSP, Living Wage (Scotland) Bill: A Consultation, Scottish Parliament, TSO
Links: Consultation document | BBC report
Notes: The living wage in Scotland was defined in the document as £7.20 per hour, based on a complex calculation that considered the costs of a range of goods and services representing the minimum income standard for people in different household types across the United Kingdom.
Date: 2012-Aug
The Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Act 2012 was given Royal assent. The Act was designed to limit the impact of United Kingdom-wide social security reforms in Scotland, including plans for a new universal credit.
Source: Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Act 2012, Scottish Parliament, TSO
Links: Act | Explanatory notes
Date: 2012-Aug
A report said that working-age tenants of housing associations and housing co-operatives in Scotland would lose between £123 million and £228 million by 2017 as a result of the coalition government 'reforms' to social security benefits. Tenants would lose around £33.5 million annually in housing benefit alone.
Source: The Impact of Welfare Reform on Housing Associations and Housing Co-operatives in Scotland, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Links: Report | SFHA press release
Date: 2012-Aug
Two linked reports said that improving energy efficiency in Scotland's households could play a significant role in helping to reduce fuel poverty.
Source: Tamsyn Wilson, Jamie Robertson, and Liz Hawkins (with Beatrix Futak-Campbell, Ada Yiu, and Dave Cormack), Fuel Poverty Evidence Review: Defining, Measuring and Analysing Fuel Poverty in Scotland, Scottish Government | Susan Walker, Energy Use in the Home: Measuring and analysing domestic energy use and energy efficiency in Scotland, Scottish Government
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2012-Aug
The Scottish Parliament unanimously approved a Bill designed to limit the impact of United Kingdom-wide social security reforms in Scotland, including plans for a new universal credit.
Source: Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government, TSO | Scottish Parliament Debate 28 June 2012, columns 10846-10873, Official Report, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | Research briefing | Official Report | SNP press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Jun
The interim report of an official advisory group said that fuel poverty had continued to rise in Scotland despite action by Scottish and United Kingdom governments over different administrations. It said that the Scottish Government should work with energy companies and local authorities to develop a national retrofit programme to help address fuel poverty: the programme would deliver support to households through comprehensive area-based schemes, with an initial focus on areas of fuel poverty and other deprivation across Scotland.
Source: Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum, Review of the Scottish Government's Fuel Poverty Strategy: Interim Report, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Jun
A report by a committee of MSPs gave its support in principle to a Bill proposed by the Scottish Government that would seek, as far as possible, to limit the likely widespread impact of the United Kingdom government's Welfare Reform Act on poor and vulnerable groups in Scotland.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill, 1st Report 2012, SP Paper 125, Scottish Parliament Welfare Reform Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release | Scottish Government press release | CIH press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-May
An article drew on a study of older people (aged 68-71) in Edinburgh to show a direct association between neighbourhood deprivation and self-perceived quality of life in physical and environmental domains (though not in psychological or social relationship domains).
Source: Rene Mottus, Catharine Gale, John Starr, and Ian Deary, '"On the street where you live": neighbourhood deprivation and quality of life among community-dwelling older people in Edinburgh, Scotland', Social Science & Medicine, Volume 74 Issue 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Apr
The Scottish Government published a report setting out the actions being undertaken in Scotland in support of the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy for inclusive growth. It identified priorities for delivering sustainable economic growth, driving recovery, boosting employment, and tackling inequality. On tackling poverty and income inequality, the framework for action aimed to: tackle income inequality by 'making work pay', maximizing the potential for people to work and maximizing income for all; take long-term measures to tackle poverty and inequality; and support those experiencing poverty.
Source: Europe 2020: Scottish National Reform Programme 2012, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Apr
A report provided a statistical snapshot of child poverty in a range of local areas in Scotland, with a specific focus on income and education.
Source: Child Poverty in Scotland: A local snapshot, Save the Children
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Apr
A new book examined the relationship between social justice and social policy in Scotland. It considered a wide range of topics and issues, including income inequalities, work and welfare, criminal justice, housing, education, health, and poverty.
Source: Gerry Mooney and Gill Scott (eds.), Social Justice and Social Policy in Scotland, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Apr
A paper examined the scope for, and implications of, devolving United Kingdom-reserved housing benefit to Scotland.
Source: Kenneth Gibb and Mark Stephens, Devolving Housing Benefit: A discussion paper, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland/Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Links: Paper | CIH press release | SFHA press release
Date: 2012-Mar
A committee of MSPs said that it was broadly supportive of the campaign for a 'living wage' – defined as the minimum income that households needed in order to afford a minimum acceptable standard of living. It would be set at £7.20 per hour at 2011 rates, compared with the adult (over 21) minimum wage of £6.08.
Source: Report on the Living Wage in Scotland, 2nd Report 2012, SP Paper 69, Scottish Parliament Local Government and Regeneration Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2012-Feb
A report examined the impact in Scotland of reassessing incapacity benefit claimants for the new employment and support allowance. 115,000 claimants were expected to lose entitlement to sickness benefits over the period 2011-2014.
Source: Keith Dryburgh, From Pillar to Post: The impact of the IB/ESA migration on Scotland s people, communities, and services, Citizens Advice Scotland
Links: Report | CAS press release
Date: 2012-Feb
A report by a committee of MSPs called for a 'one-stop shop' approach to tackling fuel poverty, with trusted intermediaries used to provide information on access to energy efficiency and energy saving schemes.
Source: Fuel Poverty: Summary of evidence taken and initial conclusions and recommendations, 1st Report 2012, SP Paper 76, Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2012-Feb
