Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 2 October 2025.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Scottish National Party
2:30,
2 October 2025
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—
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