To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the work that Social Security Scotland is engaging in to support veterans in accessing its services. (S6O-05020)

We welcome the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s report and the recommendation to improve access to devolved benefits for veterans. Social Security Scotland’s chief executive recently met the commissioner to discuss shared priorities, including the report and how access could be improved in the Scottish social security system. The agency will work with the Scottish Government to provide a response to that report in due course.

In designing its processes, the Scottish Government is taking into account the views of veterans and Social Security Scotland trained staff to deliver person-centred support. Support for veterans is currently available within existing services without their having to go through a separate process.

Last month’s report by the Scottish Veterans Commissioner recommended that veterans who are accessing benefits through Social Security Scotland should be identified and supported by staff who are trained to be veteran aware and that veteran support needs to have a clear, designated point of contact. That recommendation was made even more urgent when last week’s figures showed that 925 veterans in Scotland made a homelessness application in the past year. I am sure that the whole chamber agrees that that is not acceptable. Will the Minister confirm that the Scottish Government will implement the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s recommendations in full and consider creating a veterans network in Social Security Scotland, so that veterans can get support from those who most understand their lived experience—other veterans?

The way in which the service is designed in Social Security Scotland means that it has already considered a range of interests and the needs of many seldom-heard groups such as veterans. It is important that Social Security Scotland staff are trained to deliver person-centred support right across the range of benefits that they now deliver, regardless of background or need, and that they provide tailored support for the individuals. That is why I reiterate the point that the agency is working through the recommendations in that report to see what can be done to ensure that the service that is being provided is working for all, including our veterans.

That work will continue, and the work that the chief executive has already undertaken alongside the commissioner is part of that process of ensuring that we are delivering for all.

The Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s annual report found that there was poor progress on preventing veterans’ homelessness in 2023-24 and that there was incremental progress in 2025. What further work is the Scottish Government carrying out in conjunction with other public bodies to ensure that no veteran is forced to declare themselves homeless and that they can access benefits from Social Security Scotland?

I will begin with the actions that are being taken around devolved benefits. It is particularly important that we recognise that there are seldom-heard groups that find it difficult to access benefits—veterans are one of them, but they are not the only one. Many of those groups face shared challenges, so, if we can get the system right, we will be able to benefit not just veterans but others, too.

That is exactly why we are tackling areas such as the challenge that many people are not aware of the benefits that they are entitled to or are unaware of the support to enable people to apply for the benefits that they are entitled to. Social Security Scotland is unique in the United Kingdom in delivering local support to ensure that people get help in applying for their benefits.

I recognise that there is, as Alexander Stewart says, an obligation not just on the Government but on local authorities to provide services for our veterans to ensure that they are not homeless. That is very much the prevention part of the work that we continue to do, and I have to say, Presiding Officer, that it is therefore disappointing—

Thank you, Cabinet secretary.

—that the opportunities in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, which the Scottish Conservatives did not—

I am keen to get a supplementary question in from Keith Brown.

It is essential that veterans receive the best support possible in recognition of the valuable contribution that they have made. The Cabinet secretary may be aware of the campaign for fair compensation for veterans for hearing damage caused by defective ear defenders—an issue that I can attest to and that underlines the importance of ensuring that veterans can access the support that they are entitled to.

Will the cabinet secretary update members on the wider work that the Government is undertaking, in addition to what she has already said, with Social Security Scotland to reduce barriers to social security take-up, particularly for seldom-heard groups? Did the cabinet secretary see the “Good Morning Britain” report this morning, which showed that, when issues for veterans are created by the Ministry of Defence and the United Kingdom Government, there is no support for the Scottish Government in looking after the interests of veterans?

I did not see that report, but I will make sure that I am furnished with a copy of the transcript, to see what is going on there.

Keith Brown raises an important issue about ensuring that we all, and all our public services, have a responsibility to our veterans, which is why I will end the point about my disappointment that the Scottish Conservatives did not support our Housing (Scotland) Bill, which included an obligation on all our public services to respond to veterans’ needs. It is disappointing that they did not take up that offer to help veterans and others.

Question 4 has been withdrawn.