Meeting of the Parliament 07 May 2014
No. We have heard enough from the SNP.
There is no guarantee that changing the constitution would deliver the progressive change that would ensure a fairer society. It would take political will to do that. There is nothing progressive about the SNP’s proposals. It is the party that wants to cut corporation tax by 3 per cent more than even George Osborne wants to cut it, that refuses to commit to a 50 per cent top rate of income tax and that seems much more interested in protecting big businesses, bankers and the most wealthy. When the SNP has the opportunity to help some of the lowest-paid in society, it is found wanting.
Next week, we will debate the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage 3. The bill sets out important principles for how we spend £10 billion in public contracts each year. Here is an opportunity to do something about the living wage and zero-hours contracts. Here is an opportunity to improve the income of 400,000 low-paid workers, 64 per cent of whom are women. However, so far, the SNP has set its face against improving the lot of the low paid. The SNP is good at talking but less good when it comes to taking action.
I will give way to the minister if she will tell us now whether the Government will amend the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage 3 to include the living wage.