8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent an increase in homelessness as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. (S5O-04540)

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Minister, did you catch all that? You should have the question in writing.

I have that in writing, so I can answer that. The Scottish Government wants to ensure that everyone has a warm and safe home that meets their needs. Our focus has not changed during the pandemic, but our ambition has increased.

We do not want to see anyone return to unsuitable accommodation or rough sleeping as we emerge from the crisis. That is why I reconvened the homelessness and rough sleeping action group, which has produced a comprehensive set of recommendations, including wide-ranging proposals to prevent homelessness, which we are using to update our ending homelessness together action plan and guide our recovery. Among its recommendations was that we prevent a wave of new eviction cases and, subject to parliamentary approval, we will do so by extending the emergency measures to prevent evictions that were originally in place until September for a further six months to 31 March 2021, except those relating to antisocial behaviour or criminality.

By ensuring that the emergency legislation remains in place, we are providing extra time and protection to tenants who are struggling, enabling them to secure the financial support that is available to them so that they can keep paying their rent and can remain in their homes over this unprecedented period.

I am grateful to the minster for the detail in that answer, but I want to ask specifically about the concern over more jobs becoming risky as the pandemic continues. What support can the Government hope to give to the third sector, which is so important in helping people who have struggled with homelessness?

We will continue to work with all partners over the forthcoming period. Third sector partners have been vital in helping us to deal with situations over the course of the emergency period. It was £1.5 million of funding to third sector partners that allowed us to get rough sleepers off the streets and into hotel accommodation. [

Inaudible

.]—a number of organisations, such as the Simon Community and Streetwork, for the work that they have done on that. We have also given additional funding to bodies such as Citizens Advice Scotland to ensure that people are getting the right advice.

As Ms Smith may well be aware, I have written to every tenant in Scotland, most recently to all those in the private rented sector, signposting them to the support that is available. We will continue to monitor how much that support is taken up.

14:27 Meeting suspended.

14:40 On resuming—