Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 March 2016
23 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Inequality
Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights
Our commitment to tackling inequality and poverty across Scotland is made clear in the 2015 programme for government, and we have instigated a number of policies to achieve a greater degree of equality across the country during our time in office, including a commitment to support people in Scotland who are affected by the United Kingdom Government’s welfare cuts. The First Minister appointed an independent adviser on poverty and inequality, who has published a series of recommendations in her report “Shifting the Curve”. We also launched a nationwide discussion last year in which we asked people across the country what a fairer Scotland means to them, and a report on the findings was published recently.
In the same item of business
2. Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
To ask the Scottish Government what policies it has instigated to achieve a greater degree of equality between the most and least wealthy areas of the countr...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights (Alex Neil)
SNP
Our commitment to tackling inequality and poverty across Scotland is made clear in the 2015 programme for government, and we have instigated a number of poli...
Drew Smith
Lab
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for his response and I welcome many of the initiatives that he highlights, particularly in relation to welfare. I must...
Alex Neil
SNP
The Government is taking action on a range of fronts. First, we have the highest level of employment in any part of the United Kingdom. Secondly, we are exte...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary assure us that, rather than concentrating exclusively on the redistribution of wealth through taxation, he will do something to im...
Alex Neil
SNP
Over the next six weeks, I think that what the Scottish electorate will be saying to the Scottish Tories is, “Get on your bike.” The Government is doing eve...