John Swinney warned by charities not to dump human rights bill on access to housing and food

dailyrecord.co.uk:

John Swinney has been urged not to backslide on a new human rights bill on access to housing and food.Over 100 groups have joined forces amid fears a cost of living crisis law could be junked by his Government.The SNP’s Holyrood manifesto committed the party to incorporating four UN treaties into Scots law.One of them is on “economic, social and cultural” rights, which sets out a right to adequate food, housing and clothing.Supporters believe this suite of rights could help people in light of the housing and homelessness emergency declared by councils.Other treaties focus on eliminating discrimination against women and racial prejudice, as well as protecting people with disabilities.Former First Minister Humza Yousaf promised a human rights bill in his first year and the Government has consulted on how it would work.But experts are worried a bill will either be shelved or ditched in its entirety.In a letter to the new First Minister, the groups have demanded ministers push ahead.They wrote: “Children across Scotland are going hungry as families are pulled deeper into poverty, more households than ever before are stuck in temporary accommodation for months on end, disabled and older people are being refused the social care support that they desperately need, and some Scots can’t access the medical care they have a right to.“These are just some of the human rights emergencies being experienced by people in Scotland today.“We look forward to seeing this Bill introduced to Parliament imminently and seek your assurances that it will not be delayed.“Strengthening our NHS, tackling the housing emergency, building more empowered and powerful communities, improving social care, and stemming the rising tide of poverty; the Bill