Latest news with #MàiriMcAllan
Glasgow Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
'Our homelessness services are under significant pressure'
We are aware that the number of people living in temporary homeless accommodation is at a record high, from reports provided by Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership. Currently, staff at the Health and Social Care Partnership are focusing on supporting people who are living in an emergency situation. At the moment, the demand for housing in Glasgow is much greater than the housing supply. There can be a delay of several years before people who are homeless can access a permanent house or flat. Homeless charities highlight that the cuts by the UK Department for Work and Pensions towards Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit will lead to a further increase in homelessness. Decisions by the UK Government in the year ahead are likely to exacerbate our already stretched council services. The Scottish Government is mitigating the UK Government's Bedroom Tax. We know that this funding would be better spent tackling the housing crisis and the UK Government should scrap this tax. There is a Housing Transfer Incentive Scheme in Glasgow which can help release large housing association homes by encouraging people in 'under-occupied' properties with three rooms or more, to downsize. Tenants can access appropriately sized homes to meet their needs through specific housing support services. We can welcome the Scottish Parliament's Housing Inquiry by the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee which has published a series of recommendations to support further collaboration by the Scottish Government with housing providers to deliver a national overarching Housing Emergency Action Plan by the end of this session. We need the Scottish Government to provide clarity on whether its additional funding for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget will ensure that it meets its target of providing 110,000 affordable homes by 2030. It is vital that housing is a priority and that the Scottish Government considers the importance of increasing the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget. There has been significant partnership working undertaken to respond to the housing crisis. We can welcome the number of housing associations providing lets to tenants who are homeless across Glasgow. The Scottish Government can explore the opportunities available by increasing social investment in housing. The capacity of housing associations could be developed to increase the number of homes, especially for families, in our local communities. There is a need to ensure clarity for housing providers on the intended statutory requirement for homes to meet net-zero standards. Uncertainty is deterring housing development and this needs to be addressed to help tackle the housing crisis. We can support the appointment of Màiri McAllan as Cabinet Secretary for Housing to ensure that there is increased focus on tackling the housing crisis and providing energy-efficient homes for the future. It is vital that the new Cabinet Secretary can use all the powers at her disposal to address the housing crisis we face.
Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Times
Swinney promotes ‘rising star' McAllan in cabinet reshuffle
John Swinney has created the largest cabinet since devolution in a 'modest' reshuffle, adding an extra ministerial post to his top team. Màiri McAllan, the MSP for Clydesdale, has returned from maternity leave and been named as the newly created housing secretary, as well as having an extra unofficial responsibility for media interviews. The Scottish cabinet now consists of 12 members with the ministerial team reduced to 11 from 14. Paul McLennan, who had been a junior housing minister, left the government at his own request, it was announced, with McAllan, who had previously been net zero and energy secretary, taking on overall responsibility for the portfolio. With the housing brief promoted to cabinet level, McAllan will be tasked with tackling Scotland's housing emergency as well as passing reforms to ensure homes are more energy efficient — a move that ministers hope can bring down bills while also tackling climate change. Senior SNP sources stressed 'the political significance' of her appointment. McAllan, 32, is highly regarded within the party and seen as a possible leadership contender in future. Some have suggested that Swinney's successor will be one of McAllan, the deputy first minister Kate Forbes and the Westminster leader Stephen Flynn. McAllan's former role as net zero and energy secretary has been filled by the Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin, who has been covering the post during McAllan's maternity leave. However, Swinney's opponents said that the reshuffle was merely 'rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic' and contained the 'same old faces who have failed Scotland for far too long'. There was no cabinet place for Ivan McKee, the public finance minister, who has been overlooked for a second time by Swinney despite his reputation as one of the few well-performing junior ministers. Swinney described the reshuffle as 'modest' and said that the government was focused on four aims: eradicating child poverty, strengthening the economy, making the transition to net zero and improving public services, in particular the NHS. Speaking on the steps of Bute House, the first minister said: 'I've decided to make modest changes to the government because I think it is essential that the government, which is far advanced in delivering its programme of improvement in the lives of the people in Scotland, is concentrated on that delivery, it's vital that we have all the time available to us in this parliamentary term to improve the lives of people in Scotland and that is what the government is going to do.' The Scottish government is hoping to prioritise housebuilding on the back of the announcement of £39 billion for affordable and social homes over ten years by the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in the spending review on Wednesday. In the wider reshuffle, Maree Todd, the public health minister, has moved to the drugs and alcohol portfolio, replacing Christina McKelvie who died in March. Todd's role as social care minister has been taken by Tom Arthur, the former employment minister. Some within the SNP had been hoping for a more extensive reshuffle to remove, or at least shift, poorly performing ministers, but claimed that Swinney's natural caution and a lack of talent among junior ministers and backbenchers had hampered big changes. One SNP insider described it as a 'missed opportunity' and another nationalist derided it as 'more a wee shuffle than a reshuffle'. Alex Neil, the former health secretary, said it was 'the same old, same old. Nowhere near the changes needed to win next year's election.' The changes follow the party's unexpected loss in last week's Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election to Labour. After the vote Swinney said that the SNP needed a period of 'soul searching' and that the result showed that Scottish voters were no longer prioritising independence. It had been suggested that the first minister would take the opportunity to replace at least one of Shona Robison, the finance secretary, Fiona Hyslop, the transport secretary, and Mairi Gougeon, the rural affairs secretary, who have all announced they will leave the Scottish parliament next year. Rachael Hamilton, the Scottish Conservatives' deputy leader, said: 'Scots will be forgiven for thinking 'is that it'? John Swinney is leading a government that is not only out of ideas, but out of personnel too. 'He's rearranged the deckchairs on the Titanic and ended up with the same old faces who have failed Scotland for far too long.' Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's deputy leader, said: 'The SNP lost the by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse because they failed to listen to the priorities of people who have been badly let down by the government at Holyrood. 'If, after 18 years in power, the best John Swinney has to offer as an answer to the issues facing Scots is to shuffle his cabinet around, then that is simply not good enough.'
Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Scottish Cabinet reduced in reshuffle
John Swinney has as expected reshuffled his cabinet today. Màiri McAllan has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Housing upon her return to government from maternity leave. Ms McAllan has responsibility for all aspects of housing policy, including heat in buildings. The government says this appointment will ensure government action is focused on tackling the housing emergency and providing energy efficient homes for the future – helping stimulate economic growth, deliver Net Zero commitments and tackle child poverty. Gillian Martin has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, having held the portfolio during Ms McAllan's maternity leave. After the sad death of Christina McKelvie in March, Maree Todd will become Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, while retaining her existing responsibility for Sport. Tom Arthur has been appointed as Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing. According to the First Minister, Housing Minister Paul McLennan has requested to leave The Scottish Government and he does so today. Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan will leave Government at the end of this week, having indicated that he only wished to serve on an interim basis. Excluding the Law Officers, the overall size of government reduces to 23, down from 27 in May 2024. First Minister John Swinney said: 'Scotland's strengths lie in our people, our communities and our resolve to leave a better future, and better country for the next generation. As First Minister, I am firmly focused on leading a government that unlocks the potential for every person in Scotland to thrive. 'I have made changes to the Cabinet which will further enable us to realise that potential. Màiri McAllan has been tasked with tackling the housing emergency, including ensuring we have energy efficient homes to help bring down bills and tackle the climate emergency. These are two of the biggest challenges facing people across the country and I want them to know they have a government firmly on their side and focused on delivering real change. 'Following the sad passing of Christina McKelvie, I have asked Maree Todd to take on responsibility for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. This government has shown it is not afraid to take bold measures to prevent harm and death, and we must redouble our efforts. 'I want to thank Paul McLennan and Alasdair Allan for the service they have provided to me, the government and to the people of Scotland. They both held two very important Ministerial appointments in housing and climate action and have helped to drive forward progress in tackling two issues which are central to Scotland's long-term success as a nation.' Bute House Charlotte Square Like this: Like Related
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
McAllan to tackling housing emergency in Swinney reshuffle
Màiri McAllan is returning to the Scottish cabinet with an instruction to tackle Scotland's housing has been appointed housing secretary by First Minister John Swinney, with responsibility for all aspects of policy including heat in who is returning to government after maternity leave, replaces Paul McLennan in the housing portfolio. A statement said he requested to leave the Scottish Martin, who stood in for McAllan, will now assume the climate action and energy role on a permanent basis. Swinney also named Maree Todd as his new drug and alcohol minister, following the death of Christina McKelvie earlier this a morning of meetings at Bute House, the first minister's official residence, Tom Arthur was appointed as social care and mental wellbeing ministerActing Climate Action Minister Alasdair Allan will leave government at the end of this week, having indicated that he only wished to serve on an interim mini-reshuffle means, excluding law officers, the overall size of government decreases from 27 in May last year to said: "Màiri McAllan has been tasked with tackling the housing emergency, including ensuring we have energy efficient homes to help bring down bills and tackle the climate emergency. "These are two of the biggest challenges facing people across the country and I want them to know they have a government firmly on their side and focused on delivering real change." SNP vow to 'learn lessons' The changes come a week after Scottish Labour's Davy Russell won an unexpected victory in McKelvie's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse later defended his prediction that the contest would be a "two-horse race" between the SNP and he vowed the party would learn lessons from the result ahead of the Holyrood election next served as the minister for environment, biodiversity and land reform from 2021 to 23 and as the minister for transport, net zero and just transition from 2023 until February went off on maternity leave last July, with Gillian Martin stepping in to cover her net zero and energy is the second Scottish government minister to take maternity leave after Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes' pregnancy in 2022. The first minister will no doubt be relieved to have Màiri McAllan back in government after her maternity leave. He clearly views her as something of a protégée, a bright and capable woman, a potential future leader of the was she who introduced John Swinney when he became leader of the party in May last year. And it was Màiri McAllan who was entrusted with the introductions when the SNP unveiled their candidates a year out from the next Holyrood Sturgeon faced criticism for not doing enough succession planning. It seems John Swinney is determined not to make the same mistake and is eyeing up the Clydesdale MSP for future advancement.
STV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
John Swinney announces Scottish Government Cabinet reshuffle
John Swinney has announced a cabinet reshuffle of his Government. Standing in front of Bute House in Edinburgh, the First Minister announced on Wednesday a suite of appointments and reappointments to his Cabinet, which is the main decision-making body of the Scottish Government. John Swinney appointed SNP MSP Màiri McAllan, who's returning from maternity leave, as the cabinet secretary for housing to tackle the national housing crisis. She's also unofficially the minister for media interviews. Swinney also appointed a new minister for drugs and alcohol policy following the death of Christina McKelvie in March. Maree Todd will take on the role while Tom Arthur moves to social care. SNP MSP Gillian Martin, the current acting cabinet secretary for wellbeing, economy, net zero and energy will be staying put and taking the role on permanently. More to follow. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
