Mark Griffin MSP

In a Parliamentary debate yesterday ahead of stage two of the Housing (Scotland) Bill being considered next month, Scottish Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin said the amendments would make consideration of the rights and best interests of a child a statutory duty for homelessness prevention services.

Mr Griffin’s motion states: “That the Parliament notes the publication of In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, a research publication commissioned by Shelter Scotland from De Montfort University and University College London; accepts the findings of the publication, which concludes that children in Scotland are adversely affected by the shocking conditions found in some forms of temporary accommodation; recognises that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) provides children with rights to have their best interests considered when decisions about them are being taken, including the right to life and the ability to develop, the right to school, the right to protection from violence in all forms, and the right to play and rest; notes with concern that the report highlights a number of examples of these rights being breached; accepts that the use of hotel-like accommodation for children in temporary accommodation carries a high risk of breaching children’s rights under the UNCRC; notes that amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill have been laid that would require relevant bodies to have regard to the rights of the child in dealing with cases of homelessness, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that children in Scotland are placed in safe and secure homes which take account of their rights under the UNCRC.”

A separate set of amendments seeks to tackle poor housing conditions by strengthening the requirement for social and private landlords to deal with hazards such as mould and damp. These are based on Awaab’s Law – something the Scottish Government has pledged to support.

The most recent homelessness figures have shown the number of children in temporary accommodation is at a record high, and a recent report by Shelter Scotland set out the heartbreaking experiences of children living in these conditions.

Scottish Labour has called on all parties to unite behind both the motion and its amendments, saying parties have a “moral duty” to do right by children.

Mark Griffin MSP said “Under the SNP, a housing emergency has taken hold in Scotland and there are thousands of children paying the price.

“Right now more than 10,000 children are stuck in limbo without a home to call their own, and many of them are living in unsuitable and harmful conditions.

“We have a moral duty to do right by children – whether they are at risk of homelessness, living in temporary accommodation, or simply renting mouldy and unsafe homes.

“Scottish Labour will shine a light on this important issue in our debate and our amendments to the Housing Bill will seek to protect some of the most vulnerable children in Scotland.

“I hope all parties can unite behind Scottish Labour’s efforts to tackle this scandal and enshrine in law greater protections for children across our housing system.”

Shelter Scotland assistant director, Gordon MacRae, said: “We welcome our report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, being discussed in Scottish Parliament.

“The findings of this research should shame us all. We, as a nation, are failing those children trapped in our broken and biased homelessness system. Every child in Scotland has the right to grow up in a safe, secure and affordable home. 

“Temporary accommodation forms an important part of people’s rights. Everyone experiencing homelessness should be given access to temporary housing while they await the outcome of their application. It should act as a safety net and a first step out of crisis, rather than causing a new crisis in itself. What has become clear from this research is that for children, unfortunately, their experience is all too often the latter.  

“This research shows clearly that it is now more important than ever that all levels of government need to tackle the housing emergency with a targeted approach and protect thousands of Scotland’s children from further harm.  

“Children have bravely shared their experiences. Their stories don’t just demand to be heard — they demand urgent action.” 

Housing minister Paul McLennan told Parliament that he would be “happy to engage” on Mr Griffin’s proposals, adding: “Every child deserves a safe and warm place to call home, it’s a fundamental human right.”