Question reference: S5W-26657
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 6 December 2019
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 December 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the impact on households and businesses of the recent fire and tenement collapse in Pollokshields.
Answer
In the immediate aftermath of the fire on 10 November, contact was made by Scottish Government officials with the Emergency Planning Department at Glasgow City Council. The Regeneration Department at Glasgow City Council has also shared information with Scottish Government officials on households and businesses impacted by the fire.
All aspects of care for the people and businesses affected by the fire, along with making the site safe and protecting the structural integrity of neighbouring buildings, are the responsibility of Glasgow City Council. Glasgow City Council has statutory responsibilities towards people who are threatened with, or who are experiencing, homelessness and are obliged by law to offer a minimum of temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to all homeless households.
The Scottish Government is committed to tackling and preventing homelessness and to making available appropriate accommodation and support services to all those experiencing homelessness that require them, However, the legal duty for housing and homelessness, including responsibility for managing and allocating temporary accommodation, sits with local authorities and neither Scottish Ministers nor officials are able to intervene in individual cases.