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The Scottish Budget 2003-04: Summary

Chapter 7 Social Justice

Iain Gray MSP: Minister for Social Justice

In 2001-02, the Social Justice budget was 715m. Among other things, that money provided:

• the Central Heating Programme to start providing heating systems to the most vulnerable households, helping to make sure that people can live in a warm comfortable home
• a 3.5m contribution to the reprovisioning of large hostels in Glasgow providing shelter for people who are homeless
• improved consultation and communication with equalities groups
• 71m in supporting 48 Social Inclusion Partnerships

Our budget for 2002-03 is 749m. Among other things, we expect this to go towards:

• the approval of some 7,100 new and improved homes, helping to make sure that housing choices are available across Scotland in both our urban and rural communities
• supporting the achievement of community ownership, where tenants want this, providing the real opportunity for them to be at the centre of decisions about the investment, management and ownership of their housing in their communities
• continued support for capital investment to improve local authority housing stock
• extending the network of Volunteer Centres to all Scottish local authority areas

We plan to spend 837m in 2003-04. Among our key priorities for 2003-04 are to:

• increase the number of households benefiting from the Mortgage to Rent Scheme
• provide 10m towards carrying out the Housing Improvement Task Force recommendations which we expect to receive in early 2003
• continue support for a range of projects to help people at risk of rough sleeping

Aim

To tackle the root causes of poverty, inequality and injustice, make sure that decent affordable housing is available for everyone, promote equal opportunities, develop the voluntary sector and make sure that local communities are placed at the heart of the regeneration process.

What the budget does

http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/

The Social Justice programme covers spending on:

• housing
• social inclusion
• equalities
• voluntary issues.

Social justice is at the heart of our work. We are committed to an open and inclusive Scotland where everyone can live free from prejudice and discrimination, and has equal access to the economic and cultural life of our society. Our social justice and equality strategies underpin policy making and spending plans across the Executive so that improving health, education, the economy, justice and community issues are dealt with, breaking the cycle of deprivation and poverty in Scotland and delivering opportunity for all.

Table 7.1 Broad categories of spending (Level 2) ¹

¹ The Level 2 categories of spending have been amended to reflect the expected outcome of the spending rather than the mechanism through which we expect the budget will be spent, as the Social Justice Budget has been set out previously
² Figures rounded to the nearest m. In addition to the resources set out in this table, spending on Social Justice priorities will include:

• a total of 131.4m of End Year Flexibility to be used over three years
• 3m in 2002-03 from Treasury in recognition of the relatively low council house rent rises in Scotland and the effect this has on housing benefit in comparison with the council house rent rises in England
• 44m in NHS Cash Balances is also to be spent on Social Justice priorities.

What we will do with the money

We will use these resources to build on what we have achieved.

• through the range of housing programmes, we are working hard to make sure that decent affordable housing for everyone and we are tackling the toughest housing challenges - rough sleeping, homelessness and fuel poverty
• our spending plans will provide the support required to tackle the distinctive housing problems across Scotland, with solutions tailored to local communities
• our plans will also continue our five year programme to 2006 to install central heating to all local authority and housing association tenants and in all private dwellings where the household is a pensioner - delivering warmth and security to the most vulnerable people.

Building strong and sustainable communities is vital and we will use these resources to:

• provide funding for the network of Social Inclusion Partnerships, including funding for specific initiatives in Social Inclusion Partnership areas.
• The voluntary sector is a key partner. Our spending plans will help us to:
• encourage more people to get involved in volunteering and community action
• strengthen and develop the infrastructure of Scotland's third sector.

Mainstreaming Equality

Housing is one of two areas that we are piloting approaches to mainstreaming equality. Examples of equality-related spending in 2002-03 include:

• 5m will be targeted at houses occupied by people from minority ethnic communities, with particular emphasis on Glasgow where the problem of poor house condition is particularly acute
• our Sociable Neighbourhood Initiative will help create stable, inclusive communities where all residents can enjoy their homes and surroundings and live with their families without fear of harassment, vandalism, drug dealing or other forms of anti-social behaviour
• 2m will be spent on providing more refuges for women and children escaping domestic violence
• ??we will have installed up to 24,000 central heating systems in the households most in need, making sure that no vulnerable household need risk ill health due to a cold home.

Objectives and Targets

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