 Mae'r cydweithio yn ei dweud o'u gwiaith i ddechrau y teimlo, mae'r cydweithio yn ein ddull Russell Justus. Mae'n rhaid i'ch clywed y cysyllt ac yw'r cysyllt gyda'n ddegasgwysu digwydd y cydweithio y d drunk. Mae'n dechrau'r cydweithio gyda'n ddull Eilor i ddechrau, Fygoffaith bod yn piech yn cyflwyfodaeth i ddiwylliant o'i gwyflau'r ffaith sydd o gweithio'r gwael iawn iawn, lle o'r bowdol a chael bwyntio eich cyffredinol, o'r lle i saiddau. Mae'n amser i'ch gyerthiau oes gyrfaith o fawr o'r gafodol ar y cwmdu Old Town i'r 16 ar ffiygoffaith y 2 mwy, oedden digwydd 83%. Felly, dyma rydym yn cael ei squirlu cyfraff a'r gwylliant rai negreithiol i Fygoffaith a'r gweithio i gyd wedi sutfynol. news releases and via key stakeholders to the distribution of promotional materials to partners, including libraries, nurseries and schools. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Can the cabinet secretary comment on the impact it is having on keeping children in Scotland out of poverty? Does she share my concerns about the Westminster Government's two-child policy and undermining efforts? Will she be clear that the two-child poverty with its important rape clause will never be considered for the Scottish child payment? Can, of course, confirm to the member that the Scottish child payment is available for every eligible child. Modelling suggests that the Scottish Government policies will keep 100,000 children out of relative poverty in 24, 25, and that includes keeping 60,000 children out of poverty through the Scottish child payment. The UK Government, the member is quite right, could do so much more. They could lift a further 40,000 children out of poverty next year if they made key changes to social security, including reversing that two-child limit and introducing an essential guarantee. It is disappointing that the spring budget holds held none of those policies, and therefore those children will remain in poverty due to the Westminster's inactivity. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to bring empty properties back into use for housing. We continue to tackle empty homes as a priority, bringing more homes back to use as warm, safe and secure housing. Our interventions have been recognised by an independent audit, which endorses the £3.2 million investment in the Scottish Empty Homes partnership that has seen over 9,000 private loan terms successfully returned to use. That is why I was pleased yesterday to announce a further £423,000 of funding to support that important work in 24, 25. Mr Briggs is also aware that I wrote to Parliament in September to outline the further actions that we are taking to enhance our approach, which reflects the wide range and complexity of circumstances that have to be addressed. Miles Briggs, I thank the minister for that answer, and I agree that we need to see a real call to action to bring the estimated 43,000 empty homes back into use in Scotland. Shelter has done some really welcome work in England to support councils to do that. I ask the minister to hear in Edinburgh, for example, in my own council area, that there are 3,000 council-owned empty properties. What work will the Government do to help councils to fund those projects to bring them back? Have the Scottish Government looked at an empty homes refurbishment fund, for example, to help councils to bid for money to bring those properties back into use? If I am back to the Edinburgh situation, I met Edinburgh just last week when we were talking about Void, which is a number that we have had at that discussion, and about the empty homes and what we can do specifically around that. We have asked Edinburgh for proposals specifically on that, to see how we can work with it. Again, it comes back to the further £423,000 of funding to support this important work, because I said that it would get on-going this year. I am happy to continue to discuss this with the member going forward. Much of rural and island Scotland derelict and empty properties litter the landscape, does the minister agree that bringing such properties back into habitation is vital to reinvigorate communities and, in most instances, considerably less expensive than new-build housing? What progress has been made over the last year and will be in the next year in delivering on that objective? I have been engaging closely with local authorities, housing providers and businesses in rural areas to support delivery of more affordable homes across rural and island areas, as well as how best use of our existing supply. A rural and island house national plan supports the delivery of Scottish Government's come-up delivery of 110,000 affordable homes, of which 10 per cent will be in rural and island areas. The plan recognises that, alongside delivery of new homes for rural and island communities, existing homes is a key part of our approach, including bringing empty homes back into active use. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken regarding the incorporation of the definition of deaf blindness into the work of Social Security Scotland. Social Security Scotland works with individuals and disability organisations to design services, and every stage of the application process has been tested. The initial equality impact assessment for communication support for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing social security Scotland clients was completed in May 2022. People can apply in ways that suit them best, either by phone, online or paper application form, and local delivery advisers offer in-person support in every local authority area. We are committed to continually improving our delivery of benefits, and the people of Scotland can be assured that that will be based on dignity, fairness and respect. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The cross-party group on deafness, of which I am deputy convener, has worked tirelessly towards the definition of deafblindness being adopted in Scotland. It is the Nordic model that has been accepted in the UK since 1995, and the recognised definition across the EU, which the Scottish Government has frequently stated that they wish to align. My question is simple, cabinet secretary. Will the Scottish Government reassess its position not to recognise the definition of deafblindness so that people across Scotland are clear on what they may or may not be eligible for? I appreciate that there is an on-going campaign on the formal definition of deafblindness, and I appreciate that there was indeed a member's business on this matter most recently. I am happy to hear from Ross McCall in greater detail on the issue, as I am sure our colleagues in Social Security Scotland. Although the campaign may be on-going on this, it is important that we continue the dialogue, continue our discussions to make sure that we are supporting every client that comes to Social Security Scotland, and that, as I say, I am happy to carry on that dialogue, as I am sure is the agency. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce social housing waiting lists for disabled people. The Scottish Government has led the UK in housing by delivering more than 126,000 affordable homes since 2007, more than 89,000 of which were for social rent, including almost 24,000 council homes. It will also invest 556 million in affordable housing in 24, 25, the majority of which will be for social rent. We remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, and to support that, we will bring forward a review scheduled for 26, 27 to 24, which will concentrate on deliverability. We are also working with the financial community in Scotland and elsewhere to boost private sector investment and help to deliver more homes. I think that there is also a role for local authorities in preparing their local housing strategies. Those are discussions that have local authorities in terms of that. One, to identify what the waiting lists are and two, the actions that they are undertaking in that regard. The minister might be aware that, in North Lanarkshire, 1,170 disabled people are currently stuck in social housing waiting lists, many of which are children. Instead of taking that issue seriously, the SNP Government has chosen to slash the housing budget by more than £200 million in the past year. Therefore, I ask the minister how he expects to cut down those lists when social house building is being discouraged by his own Government's cuts. I will come on to that point a little second. I think that one of the key things that I want to mention is about the reliance of consultation and housing for very needs in June this year and that closed in December. Of course, that is a new build. I think that when we come in to talk about investment in social housing, there are a couple of points of context. One, we build 40 per cent more homes, affordable homes than in England, and 70 per cent more than Wales. There is a 10 per cent capital budget cut from your Government, which obviously has no influence on what is over. The biggest cut in terms of that, and there is a choice to the Tory Government to cut the capital budget to ourselves. It started with the question that was getting heckled, disappointingly by some who had already been invited to ask a question. The answers are now being heckled likewise. We are not going to get through this if this continues. I mentioned about the 10 per cent capital budget cut. There is also the dramatic cut in financial transactions, which gave us flexibility around the bit. We also spend £90 million a year on discretionary housing payment, which is again due to policies by your Government. If we remove these, we would have £90 million extra to invest in houses that you are talking about. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. The minister will be aware of the Dying in the Margin's work by Mary Curie and the University of Glasgow, which has again reinforced the significant demand for adaptive properties for people who are diagnosed with a terminal illness. Not only the impact that someone has on their family when they have to move out of an adapted property very quickly, but can the minister say what work the Government is going to do to engage with that piece of work to ensure that the efficiency of adapted properties and that support for people who are grieving? Thank the member for his question. It was a good time when I spoke to Ellie Wagstaff at an event last night, and she talked about this particular project, and I think that we had both attended it. I had also been doing a piece of work with MND. In some of the positions, we are debilitating terminal diseases. We have been working with Elacio and Cozla in trying to deliver a pathway that gives effective adaptations at the time that they need to write at the outset. Elacio continued to work with MND and others in delivering that pathway. I am happy to pick up with the member after this. The minister must know that one in four wheelchair users say that their home is not suitable for their needs. 17,000 of them have unmet housing needs. So many in my constituency in North East Fife are desperate for a home, and they are desperate, yet only 1 per cent of the social housing is suitable. With 17 years of a social housing build programme, why are so many unsuitable for disabled people? I think that it is very much a partnership approach. I mentioned about the local housing strategies, which are obviously brought forward by the local authorities themselves. On the discussions that I have had with Fife and other local authorities, it is making sure that they are aware, first of all, of the number of people who are in that position, as Mr Rennie talks about. What can they do? We have talked about the adaptation of housing for varying needs, which talks about housing going forward. However, it is really up to the local housing strategy, which Fife has brought forward, to identify the number of houses that is doing that. I have raised it with Fife on a number of occasions, and I am happy to pick up with Mr Rennie after this. Question 6 is not lodged. Question 7, Russell Finlay. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to tackle social isolation and loneliness. We published our delivery plan for our social isolation and loneliness strategy, recovering our connections in March 2023. The plan aims to better understand social isolation and loneliness to reduce the harm caused by it and tackle this public health issue. The plan highlights the actions that we are taking, including funding support of more than £3 million to 53 organisations across Scotland over a three-year period, 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 social isolation and loneliness for those who are most impacted. Russell Finlay, I thank the minister for that answer. The Sunday Post and Age Scotland have launched the big bra community, which is a campaign to reduce loneliness and isolation in older people by 2030. It is backed by the cartoon cavalcade legend Glen Michael, who is 98 years old. Most people in here, perhaps apart from Megan Renew who I am talking about. Today, using some good old fashioned newspaper language, I can sensationally reveal that the campaign is now being backed by none other than Ur-Willy, and that Scotland's nuttiest schoolboy is to break the habit of a lifetime by helping the old folk of Ock and Shugel starting this Sunday, so get your Sunday Post. Does the Scottish Government join Glen Michael, myself and Ur-Willy in supporting this excellent campaign? I am not sure how old the member thinks I am, but while I do not understand all of his references, I understand the one to the big bra campaign. We discussed it at the most recent meeting of the social isolation and loneliness action group. I very much welcome the support for the campaign to tackle social isolation and loneliness and look forward to working with everybody involved to make sure that we are all on the same page and doing all that we can. Thank you, convener. Somebody who can remember Glen Michael. Can the minister elaborate on what impact the £3.2 million social isolation and loneliness fund is suspected to have on the well-being of these groups and individuals across Scotland most in need of the support? I am happy to. I have managed to meet with quite a few of the organisations in receipt of the fund so far, and even on those very brief visits I have been able to appreciate the impact that this is having on groups such as older people, younger people, those with mental health difficulties and disabled people. The fund's intention is, of course, to support organisations to create opportunities for people to connect. We know that, from evaluation of the first year of activity, many organisations have reported increased social connections and the associated improvement in mental wellbeing of participants. One organisation reported that 100 per cent of participants have improved their confidence in going out and being socially active simply by engaging with the project. The evaluation also told us that some organisations have improved partnership working in order to increase the activities on offer to communities. The total number of beneficiaries predicted to benefit from funded activities is around 20,000 over the duration of the fund, and we will continue to monitor progress with the fund. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments by the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland, which describes Scotland as being, quote, in the midst of a housing emergency. I spoke to CIH at the conference last week on the day that they announced that. We recognise the current housing challenges experienced across the UK and are determined to address levels of homelessness in part through the supply of social and affordable housing. However, the UK Government failed to inflation-proof their capital budget. That has resulted in a near 10 per cent real-terms cut in our capital funding. The financial interactions budget has also been cut by 62 per cent. That is on top of Brexit, and UK Government financial mismanagement is causing inflationary pressures on construction supply and labour shortages. As I mentioned previously, we are also working with the financial community in Scotland and elsewhere to boost private sector investment and deliver more homes. After 17 years in government, what a shameful response from the minister. There are 10,000 children in Scotland in temporary accommodation. There are 130,000 households waiting for social housing, and that is the best that we get from the front benches. Shelter accused this Government, not any other Government, of gaslighting the people of Scotland over the housing emergency. Three councils have declared a housing emergency, and this latest organisation is one of a long line to declare such an emergency. Everyone knows it is an emergency, except this Government. Can I ask the minister, Shelter, to have specifically called on the First Minister to make an urgent statement to this Parliament about Scotland's housing emergency before the Easter recess? Will he, and if he won't, why not? First of all, I want to take up some of the points that he mentioned. If we look at the statement that Shelter also released about the UK Government, you will see that it was as damming as it was to the Scottish Government. If we are going to quote the independent analysis, I think that one of the key pieces of work that has come out in the last month or two was from crisis, and it was a homeson monitor, which was independent from Herotwong University. The two main things that they mentioned having the biggest impact on reducing homelessness was the local housing allowance, which has been frozen by your Government for a number of years, and there is a big demand on that. That also goes to the Labour Party as well. Once they come in, or if they come into power in the UK, then there is a chance for them to reinstate that as well. The second most important point that they mentioned was the universal credit rates. Again, that is a decision that has been made by your Government. When it comes back to 10 per cent capital budget cut, if we are talking about decisions, that 10 per cent capital budget cut was to pay for national insurance cuts for the most wealthy in society. Thank you for a couple of supplementaries. Can the minister confirm that, despite UK Government capital funding cuts, Scotland's affordable housing supply programme remains the most ambitious and successful programme in the UK? Our affordable housing supply programme is indeed the most ambitious programme in the UK, and we remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, despite the unprecedented UK Government capital funding cuts. Since 2007, Scotland has led the way in housing, having delivered over 40 per cent more affordable homes per population in England and 70 per cent more than in Wales. From 23 March 2022 to end of September 23, 15,765 homes have been delivered towards 110,000 affordable homes target, of which 12,188 are homes for social rent. Does the minister accept that, in the period since this Government came to office in 2007, on average more social housing properties have been constructed each year by this Government than was the position for the eight years before this Government came to office? Although all of us want to see more affordable housing developments undertaken, wouldn't it help if the Scottish Government budget wasn't subjected to the callous cuts in capital expenditure that we've experienced from the Conservative Government perpetually and consistently to enable this Government to fulfil its objectives and to address the legitimate concerns that are raised by the housing sector? I concur with the points that the Scottish Government has made that has consistently delivered more homes per pedipopulation than any other parts of the UK. On the budget cuts, I mentioned about the impact that has had on the 10 per cent capital budget cut. The 62 per cent cut in financial transactions has made this extremely difficult for ourselves in terms of that. It comes back to the point that we are talking about decision-making and where we go in regards to that. The 10 per cent capital budget cut paid for national insurance cuts for the most wealthy in society.