The Devil is in the detail of the Programme for Government

The first cited use of the phrase “The Devil is in the details”, belongs to Friedrich Nietzsche. It has become a well-worn idiom and one certainly worth bearing in mind when it comes to consideration of the Programme for Government (PfG) announced by the First Minister on the Scottish Parliament’s first day back after the summer recess.  

The PfG made a number of very big, very significant commitments across a range of portfolios. The changes that will be made across the public sector, but especially health, could potentially be some of the largest to take place, in Scotland, in decades. A proposed focus on economic growth, net zero and child poverty was also included. Contained within the latter were references to ending homelessness and so it is there that attention must turn and details be inspected for any devilry. 

At Crisis, we welcome the ambition of the 5-year Programme for Government. Reference was made to ending homelessness for everyone and our job over the next 5 years will be to ensure that the Scottish Government delivers on that commitment. Our early focus will be to ensure a delivery plan for the homelessness prevention duties that need to be in place by the end of 2028 is produced and implemented by the Scottish Government.  

Details, details... 

With the Scottish Government focusing on public sector reform, this is a nexus point for ending homelessness. While there is a vision to end homelessness for everyone and transition towards a prevention-based system, detail remains lacking. 

The Scottish Government can set in train one of two options. The first is where public services are reformed to prioritise, and be better at, prevention and early action. In relation to ending homelessness, this means public services working better together to stabilise housing. It is also one where the Scottish Government clearly outlines a delivery plan for the ambitions it has set. The alternative option is to not do this work, to continue doing the same things as before or not commit sufficiently to public service reform, fail to provide a delivery plan and see the same patterns of failure as in the past.  

How will we know which path the Scottish Government has chosen to take? The Devil will be in the details…