To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address social isolation and loneliness. (S6O-03895)

The Scottish Government published “Recovering our Connections 2023-2026”, the delivery plan for our social isolation and loneliness strategy, in March 2023. The plan aims to better understand social isolation and loneliness, to reduce the harm that is caused by it and to tackle that public health issue. There are a number of actions in it, including funding to support 53 organisations across Scotland delivering community-led activity that responds to local needs. The Scottish Government will continue to work with the social isolation and loneliness advisory group to help us to deliver the plan and to collaborate on ways to tackle loneliness for those who are most impacted.

I have certainly read the strategy that you have highlighted. It is important work.

Recently, I have visited many local and community organisations such as Lo’gelly Lunches, Grow West Fife, Kinross day centre and, in my home village of Kelty, Oor Wee Cafe. All those organisations and many more do an amazing amount of work, and they are community based. Although the strategy is welcome, do you accept that it is at community level that we can make the difference? Will you look at the impact of council cuts on many local organisations that are key to making the strategy work?

Speak through the chair, please.

Alex Rowley raises important points, and I am well aware of the value that is added by local groups. Of course, Fife Council is Labour-led, and I ask all councils to consider the point that he has raised.

I highlight the work of Befriending Networks Scotland, which I mentioned earlier as receiving £40,000 a year for three years, covering 2023 to 2026. I have visited some of its projects. It supports befriending services across Scotland and currently has 118 Scottish members. Approximately one in four of its members are independent community organisations that operate in rural areas. Several national organisations serve rural communities through telephone befriending or commissioned services.

There are a couple of supplementary questions, which will need to be brief. The responses will need to be brief, too.

I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests.

Winter is often a tough time for farmers—especially this year, after a difficult harvest. We have wonderful charities such as the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution, which does amazing work in providing emotional, practical and financial support. Is there any more that the minister can do to ensure that people know that help is available?

I thank Tim Eagle for raising the amazing work that that organisation does. The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to support the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution to provide emotional, practical and financial assistance to people who live and work in Scottish agriculture.

We have provided funding of a total of £50,000 to support RSABI in financial year 2023-24, taking the total Scottish Government support to £565,000. We are in discussion with RSABI on future funding requirements. The funding supports it to deliver important services such as emotional, practical and financial assistance to those in the agricultural sector.

In its delivery plan for the social isolation and loneliness strategy, the Scottish Government commits to tackling the digital divide. In rural and island areas especially, older people rely on communications infrastructure to keep connected with family, friends and care services.

Given that telecom companies are planning to end the use of traditional copper network land lines and move to broadband-based phones, what work is the Scottish Government undertaking to ensure that rural areas with not-spots, poor broadband connectivity and emergency alarms that are reliant on land lines are smoothly transitioned for older people, who are more likely to have a traditional land line than to have a mobile phone?

We must have briefer questions and briefer responses, or we will not get through the questions on the order paper.

I will give a brief response. Beatrice Wishart has raised many issues that also cover colleagues’ portfolio areas, so I will connect with them and issue a more detailed response.