Public

During 2020-21, CAS commissioned Keep Scotland Beautiful to undertake research to better understand why some properties in a localised area in Edinburgh were not properly connected to the mains sewerage, and could potentially be impacting bathing water quality.

This report highlighted that most home owners whose sewerage is misconnected to the surface water runoff system are unaware of the issue, therefore unless a misconnection is identified, nothing will be done to rectify the issue. Yet, for those interviewed, there was clearly a concern that a misconnection could have a detrimental impact upon the environment.

Identifying and rectifying misconnections in Scotland poses a significant challenge for relevant authorities.

The Scottish Campaign for Rights to Social Security (SCoRSS) believe it is time for a social security system that prevents poverty, treats people with dignity and respect and supports everyone to flourish.

However, access to and experience of social security are greatly affected by deeply ingrained inequalities that ensure that groups including women, disabled people, Black and minority ethnic people and others are even more affected by poverty, insecurity and exclusion.

The members of the Scottish Campaign on Rights to Social Security (SCoRSS) believe five fundamental principles underpin the real change required to achieve this vision.

We must work together to:

• „  Increase social security payment rates to a level where no one is left in poverty and all have sufficient income to lead a dignified life;

• „  Make respect for human rights and dignity the cornerstone of UK and Scottish social security;

• „  Radically simplify social security to ensure it is easy to access and that barriers to entitlement are removed;

• „  Invest in the support needed to enable everyone to participate fully in society; and

• „  Make social security work for Scotland.