Hansard

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

14 May 2026

Oaths and Affirmations

I, Marie Alexandra McNair, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Adult Disability Payment (Mental and Behavioural Disorders)

I, too, am proud that the Scottish National Party Government continues to strengthen social security support and maximise incomes for our most vulnerable. The recent report by the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland on the welfare state highlights that high spending ...

Marie McNair SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Affordable Childcare (Clydebank and Milngavie)

I am proud of the policies that the Scottish National Party Government has introduced, which make childcare more accessible. We know that wraparound childcare is essential to ensuring that parents can find and retain employment, and that the impact of that policy is keeping ch...

4. Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Affordable Childcare (Clydebank and Milngavie)

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting families in Clydebank and Milngavie to access affordable childcare. (S6O-05688)

Marie McNair SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am sorry; I have connection issues with my app. I would have voted no.

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted no.

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

18 Mar 2026

Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.

Marie McNair SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Does Audrey Nicoll share my concerns that the evidence clearly shows that there is no favourable impact from assisted dying on funding for palliative care? The law has led to the closure of hospices in Canada and the reduction of palliative care funding in other countries that...

Marie McNair SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app froze again. I would have voted no.

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer, my voting app would not connect. I would have voted yes.

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan

I welcome the delivery plan and the impact that these measures will have on households in my constituency. Will the cabinet secretary set out more detail of the employability support and how parents in Clydebank and Milngavie will be supported to increase their income through ...

Marie McNair SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

I share your concerns. I am constantly calling that out. As MSPs, we need to be mindful of the language that we use—about human beings, at the end of the day—given that we are only one payslip away from needing social security ourselves.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

In the west of Scotland, there is a culture of thinking, “I do need it, but somebody else needs it more than me.” It is about trying to break through that.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

I raised the point about stigma, benefits take-up and promotion at East Dunbartonshire Citizens Advice Bureau annual general meeting the other week. Do other witnesses want to add any thoughts on that?

Marie McNair SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

Earlier, we were speaking about benefits take-up. Last week, we dealt with the job start payment and reflected on the stigma that was attached to making a claim. Can you comment on the impact that the associated stigma is having on benefits take-up across the board?

Marie McNair SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

Do you feel that the application process is deterring people from claiming benefits?

Marie McNair SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

It is important that people should be able to keep track of their application. Whoever gets elected as the next Government needs to push that.The Scottish Government has agreed to review the ADP application form. The Government’s response points out that the current form has b...

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

Good morning, and thank you for your time. The Scottish Government is unable to commit to having an online portal to track the progress of applications. Is an online portal a priority for the people you support?

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Does Mr McArthur acknowledge that, without first-rate palliative care being available, the bill does not offer terminally ill people a real choice? I know the importance of that point from my own experience. I have seen people coming into the hospice in extreme pain and distre...

Marie McNair SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Violence Against Women and Girls

I extend my gratitude to the minister for meeting my constituent today, to hear from her as a survivor. Does the minister agree that policy on such matters must be informed by people’s lived experience? Will she highlight how that approach will continue to shape the decisions ...

7. Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Violence Against Women and Girls

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect women and girls from violence, in light of international women’s day last weekend. (S6O-05625)

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

05 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · New-build Housing (Adaptations)

I welcome the fact that the recently passed Scottish budget for 2026-27 will invest in Scotland’s housing sector. Can the cabinet secretary speak more to the Scottish Government’s plans to build our future by maximising growth and investment?

Marie McNair SNP Chamber

05 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Social Security Budget

A few weeks ago, I sponsored an event in the Parliament with Professor Gerry McCartney and Dr David Walsh from the University of Glasgow to present the findings of their book, “Social Murder? Austerity and Life Expectancy in the UK”. It shows that the UK Government’s austerity...

1. Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

05 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Social Security Budget

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the United Kingdom Government’s reported austerity policies on the Scottish social security budget. (S6O-05603)

Marie McNair SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Job Start Payment

Turnaround is key. I know that there have been improvements, but it is a matter of doing things at the right time and at the right place for people.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Job Start Payment

Can I open up that question to Graeme Hendry and Jo Derrick? Are there any improvements that could be made to increase the number of applications?

Marie McNair SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Job Start Payment

Did the feedback from the young people who have applied show that the job start payment is making a difference?

Marie McNair SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Job Start Payment

Zara, in your written submission, you mentioned the difficulties that are associated with the application process. Do you have any suggestions for the committee on how to improve that process?

Marie McNair SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Job Start Payment

Take-up among folk claiming universal credit can be encouraged through posters, leaflets and so on. Can you confirm that you have met at senior level to make sure that work coaches offer information on the job start payment?

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Job Start Payment

I represent the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency in the west of Scotland. For theme 2, we are looking to hear your thoughts about how we can improve application rates. Karyn Dunning, you spoke about valuation. What difference is the job start payment making to young people...

Marie McNair SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

:We will take your concerns back to the Scottish Government.

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Committee

03 Mar 2026

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Good morning. Lucy, you said earlier that we need action now. Do you feel that there has not been enough action from the Scottish Government on your recommendations? I would be really interested to hear what response you have had back from the Government.

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Clydebank Blitz (85th Anniversary)

I am honoured to have secured this debate to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Clydebank blitz, and I thank members for supporting my motion.I take the opportunity to thank Clydebank artist and historian Tom McKendrick and many of my constituents for sharing their knowle...

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

24 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

:I could flag other examples of barriers to neurodivergent people obtaining blue badges and will quite happily come back to you on that, and I totally agree with the minister’s comments about societal change.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

24 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

:I am reassured, for myself and my constituents, that the issue is being considered. I will wait and see where we go with that.What actions is the Scottish Government taking to identify the most persistent barriers and forms of discrimination that neurodivergent people face? H...

Marie McNair SNP Committee

24 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

:Good morning. I will go back to Maggie Chapman’s point about not needing a diagnosis to access support. Unfortunately, we have heard during the evidence sessions—I have also heard this feedback from my constituents—that the reality on the ground is that, with regional variati...

Marie McNair SNP Committee

24 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

:I agree with you that it is not all down to budgets; it is about changing mindsets. It could be a policy change that brings about the change that is required.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

24 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

:Yes. You have spoken about the importance of embedding a human rights approach into and across the public sector. What resources will be required to achieve that kind of cultural change?

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Committee

24 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Good morning. Do you want to say anything else on human rights budgeting? Are you aware of any additional work that the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that future budgets comply with the international covenant?11:00

Marie McNair SNP Chamber

19 Feb 2026

General Question Time · Warm Homes Plan

I recently met MPC Energy, a business in Clydebank, to discuss the impact of Labour’s short-sighted plans on its business. MPC has more than 10 years’ experience and has helped hundreds of people on low incomes make their homes energy efficient, but, as a result of Labour’s pl...

5. Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

19 Feb 2026

General Question Time · Warm Homes Plan

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on Scotland of the United Kingdom Government’s warm homes plan. (S6O-05535)

Marie McNair SNP Committee

19 Feb 2026

Funeral Support Payment

I note that it is also about dignity. Before I became an MSP, I was a councillor in West Dunbartonshire, and we made sure that there was dignity. We added in a celebrant when there was a public health funeral. It is good to hear that that has happened in other local authoritie...

Marie McNair SNP Committee

19 Feb 2026

Funeral Support Payment

That would be helpful.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

19 Feb 2026

Funeral Support Payment

I wanted to ask Adam Stachura and John Halliday about that, but I will open it up to the funeral directors. Do they have any comments to make?

Marie McNair SNP Committee

19 Feb 2026

Funeral Support Payment

It is one of those conversations that everybody puts off.Do you have any suggestions about changes that could be made to the qualifying criteria for the funeral support payment?

Marie McNair SNP Committee

19 Feb 2026

Funeral Support Payment

John Halliday, are you aware of any obvious barriers to folk being able to claim?

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Committee

19 Feb 2026

Funeral Support Payment

Take-up levels of the funeral support payment among those who are eligible sit at about 61 per cent, and there is a wider range of options in Scotland for when you can claim than there is with the DWP, the counterpart in the rest of the UK. The Scottish Government and other st...

Marie McNair SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

If you have anything else that you want to update the committee on, feel free to send us a written submission. That would be really helpful in addition to the evidence session.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

No—take your time.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

You must be in my headspace because that is exactly what I was going to say to you—awareness is so important in breaking the stigma. I recently watched “Dinosaur”, the Ashley Storrie drama, which I think has run over two series. It was informative and very helpful, and we need...

Marie McNair SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

Does anybody else have any views on how training should be delivered? Should it be delivered by those who have lived experience? I think that it definitely should be.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

It needs to be person centred as well.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

No, you are, and it has been really helpful.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

Thanks for everything that yous do and for being the voice for those who are neurodivergent.In our lived experience session, the committee heard about the importance of having autistic-led training so that people working across different sectors can react to the needs of neuro...

Marie McNair SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

I am the constituency MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, which is in the West Scotland region.

Marie McNair SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

My question on training has been covered. It was reassuring to hear from our witnesses that the voice of lived experience has been heard in the development of systems that will help everybody, whether they deliver or receive services, in the long term. As we all know, we need ...

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Committee

17 Feb 2026

Neurodivergence

I represent the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency. Welcome, witnesses, and thank you for your time this morning.

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Social Security Scotland Staff (Training to Support Disabled People)

I welcome the Scottish Government’s first annual joint meeting between the Cabinet and disabled people, which took place at the start of February. Will the cabinet secretary tell us more about the outcome of that meeting and about how disabled people’s lived experience is help...

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Titan Crane

The Titan crane is a beacon of the industrial heritage of Clydebank and shipbuilding on the Clyde. It survived two world wars, including the Clydebank blitz. In 2007, after maintenance work and the creation of a visitor centre, the crane was opened to the public. It is a memor...