Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 November 2015
04 Nov 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Supporting Scotland’s Children
Last night, Jackie Baillie voted with the Tories to spend £167 billion on replacing Trident and building a new generation of weapons of mass destruction. I find it incredible that, less than 24 hours later, she is still leading for Labour as a spokesperson on public services. How can Labour have any credibility on public services when its cheerleader in this debate voted to spend £167 billion on warfare instead of on welfare?
To be fair to Jackie Baillie—I am always fair to Jackie Baillie—her colleagues in London also failed to oppose the Tories’ Welfare Reform and Work Bill. Indeed, the then acting leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman, wanted to vote for it. At the end of the day, Labour eventually agreed merely to abstain, but at no point did I hear Jackie Baillie criticise Harriet Harman for wanting to vote for that Tory bill.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-14688, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on supporting Scotland’s children. 14:40
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
Today is a historic day for the Scottish Parliament and a defining day for devolution. The members of this Parliament are going to look ahead to the future a...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Will Jackie Baillie spell out how much money will be raised by the tax changes that she proposes?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I will do so in the course of my speech. I wonder whether I can get Mr Fraser to reflect on the words of Tory member of Parliament David Davis, who said: “...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Will Ms Baillie give way on that point?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I will, in a second. The SNP wants to hide behind the constitution. Stronger for Scotland? The SNP is not stronger for working families. The First Minister ...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
In 2013, Ms Baillie said: “I’m not saying that, y’know, we can’t develop our own welfare system; I’m saying we shouldn’t develop our own welfare system.” W...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
It is typical of SNP members to hark back to the past. Fifty-five is greater than 45—they did not win the referendum. The people of Scotland’s settled will i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Order, please, particularly on the Government front bench.
Jackie Baillie
Lab
Tax credits work. They boost people’s earnings in a targeted way to really tackle inequality. They lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and ...
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
How?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
Clause 21 of the Scotland Bill gives us to the power to do that. I quote the Scotland Office: “Holyrood will be able to top up payments to people in Scotlan...
Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
Is Ms Baillie not aware that the top-up of reserved benefits can happen only in cases of severe hardship and that if someone has had their benefit taken off ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I will give you the time back.
Jackie Baillie
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. What is fascinating is that the member clearly does not understand the detail that is there. Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Order, please.
Jackie Baillie
Lab
How many times does she need to be told? The UK Government, SPICe and the independent experts at the House of Commons library all say that we can top up rese...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights (Alex Neil)
SNP
Last night, Jackie Baillie voted with the Tories to spend £167 billion on replacing Trident and building a new generation of weapons of mass destruction. I f...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Alex Neil
SNP
No. Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Order.
Alex Neil
SNP
Jackie Baillie made it clear during the referendum that she is opposed to social security powers coming to this Parliament. Had Jackie Baillie had her way, w...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Would you sit down please, cabinet secretary? Rhoda Grant has a point of order.
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I would like to ask for your guidance, Presiding Officer. I thought that members had to speak to the motion for debate and that it is not in order to speak t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Thank you, Ms Grant. The cabinet secretary is opening with debating points. He is speaking about welfare, and it is entirely up to me whether I stop him. Ca...
Alex Neil
SNP
Right, Presiding Officer. Labour members do not like the truth. If we had listened to Jackie Baillie and this Parliament was therefore to be denied social s...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Order, please.
Alex Neil
SNP
It is no wonder that the Scottish Labour Party has no credibility when it comes to fighting the Tory cuts. Unlike the Labour Party, the SNP has fought the we...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Cabinet secretary, could you address your remarks through the chair, please?
Alex Neil
SNP
I am doing so. Unlike the Labour Party, we will not run up the white flag while there is still a realistic chance of forcing the Tory Chancellor of the Exch...