Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 06 November 2018
06 Nov 2018 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Poverty
A great deal has been said about universal credit since last Monday’s budget. Much of the commentary has been balanced and constructive, but some of it has been less so and has—dare I say it—involved points that are more politically motivated than related to the situation on the ground.
Much of the rhetoric has again implied that the systems that universal credit has replaced were working well and addressing issues of poverty. That is not the case. Experts at the Institute for Fiscal Studies have pointed out that, with working tax credits, working for more than 16 hours a week made little sense, because the gain from earnings was negligible as benefits were withdrawn. That system was driven by the wrong incentives.
By 2011, the UK was one of the worst-performing countries in Europe for workless households—it ranked 28th out of 28. The system was far too complex and error prone. Claimants had to deal with layer upon layer of interacting benefits, which all had their own rules and procedures.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-14621, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on the impact of United Kingdom Government welfare cuts an...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
Today’s debate takes place in the week that Professor Philip Alston, who is the United Nations’ special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, will ...
Adam Tomkins (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary explain how the Scottish Government proposes to use its ample powers to top up reserved benefits and to create new benefits, rathe...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
The Scottish Government intends to stand up for the people of Scotland in the face of the UK Government’s cuts. Perhaps, when is considering what is said tod...
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
A great deal has been said about universal credit since last Monday’s budget. Much of the commentary has been balanced and constructive, but some of it has b...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Michelle Ballantyne
Con
I will not at the moment. I need to make progress. In 2009-10, error and fraud were estimated to have cost the taxpayer about £5.2 billion a year. In the sa...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Michelle Ballantyne said that 1,000 more people have moved into work each day over the past decade. Is not it true that the population has increased by 3 mil...
Michelle Ballantyne
Con
More people are working than ever before and the economy has more jobs than ever before. The Conservative Government legislated against exploitative zero-hou...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Michelle Ballantyne
Con
I have just taken one, so I will continue. The policy’s fundamental principles of simplifying welfare, making work pay and ensuring that those who need supp...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The timing of this debate is very welcome, following the UK Government’s budget and Esther McVey’s statement, but it seems that the UK Government thinks that...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
Mark Griffin spoke of some of the organisations that have briefed us for this debate, and I think that the notable amount of briefings that we have received ...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am grateful to the Government for bringing the motion to Parliament and to Labour and the Greens for their amendments, both of which we are happy to suppor...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I joined the Scottish National Party in my late teens, when I was 18 years old. At the time, my community was under siege from an uncaring Conservative Gover...
Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
It goes without saying that there has been renewed discussion about the impact of universal credit and its effectiveness in recent weeks and months, and I we...
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Annie Wells
Con
I am sorry, but I have a lot to get through. From October 2019, claimants will be able to repay overpayments and debt more slowly; and from October 2021, pe...
Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Annie Wells
Con
I am in the last minute of my speech. The SNP Government has talked up its new social security bases, but now we learn that it has no idea where staff are g...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The member is closing her speech.
Annie Wells
Con
To finish, I stress again that the principles behind the UK Government’s welfare reforms are the right ones. The extra support in the budget is very welcome ...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
This debate on universal credit is vitally important, although the matters that we must discuss are deeply unwelcome. Universal credit sits at the heart of ...
Adam Tomkins
Con
Will Bob Doris give way?
Bob Doris
SNP
Let me make some progress. They will still not get their money after that five-week wait. I note that, in certain circumstances, the DWP can provide an ad...
Adam Tomkins
Con
Will Bob Doris give way now?
Bob Doris
SNP
I want to make progress. I have probably heard enough of Mr Tomkins, to be fair. Those claimants have to go elsewhere to survive—I worry about where they ar...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I worked as a front-line housing officer for around six years. It was a very rewarding and, at times, tough job, and it offered a good grounding for becoming...
Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
SNP
It is with a heavy heart that I rise to speak. I am ashamed, angry and despondent that, in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, we have in the 21st...