Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-02948, in the name of Jeane Freeman, entitled “Creating a Fairer Scotland: Our Disability Delivery Plan”....

The Minister for Social Security (Jeane Freeman) SNP

I am pleased to open the debate on “A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Our Delivery Plan to 2021 for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Perso...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

We are supportive of the introduction of a framework for families who are affected by disability, but the title suggests that it might not include young peop...

Jeane Freeman SNP

Yes, I can. The strategy will be worked through with disabled people and people who care for children with disabilities. It will include all such children, b...

Adam Tomkins (Glasgow) (Con) Con

I welcome the fact that this debate is being signed, which is something that I hope we can do much more often in Parliament, and indeed in public life in Sco...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

Adam Tomkins Con

I am happy to give way to Sandra White.

Sandra White SNP

I thank the member and hope that we can continue with the agreement that he has mentioned. Does he agree with the UN report that mentions that the UK Governm...

Adam Tomkins Con

No, I do not, and I shall explain why in a few moments. It is not a matter of law making alone, but also of public expenditure. Under the Conservatives, th...

Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green) Green

Will the member take an intervention?

Adam Tomkins Con

No, I want to develop the point. The figures are even worse in Scotland, where the disability employment rate is a shocking 42 per cent. That is an injustic...

Jeane Freeman SNP

Will Mr Tomkins acknowledge what I also said yesterday about the Westminster cross-party working group’s assessment of how long it would take the UK Governme...

Adam Tomkins Con

I agree that it is taking too long to close the disability employment gap, and that is why our amendment welcomes not only the Scottish Government’s fairer S...

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I thank the Presiding Officer and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for their good offices in again making the Parliament an exemplar in the provisio...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to open speeches of around six minutes, please. We have some time in hand, so I can give extra time for interventions or for anyone who has something...

George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) SNP

Thank you, Presiding Officer. It is nice to know that I have a wee bit of time today. I welcome this debate and I am glad to take part in it. Many members w...

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con) Con

I apologise to you, Presiding Officer, and to the minister for being late. It was nothing to do with disability—I just cannot read a watch. I have met a num...

Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) SNP

I, too, thank the hundreds of people who responded to the fairer Scotland consultation. One of the most important lines in Jeane Freeman’s motion is the dete...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

As the minister did, I thank everyone who was involved in the consultation and in the production of the fairer Scotland report, which we absolutely support, ...

Adam Tomkins Con

Does the member accept the fact that £6 billion a year more is being spent on disability benefits in the United Kingdom than was the case when the Labour Par...

Alex Rowley Lab

We just heard Kate Forbes talk about the constituent who came to her office. A constituent of mine spoke to me just last week, along with his mother. He has ...

Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I, too, am concerned about care charges, which is why I spoke in the members’ business debate on them earlier this week. Mr Rowley mentioned Fife Council. Is...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

I cannot take another speech. Mr Rowley, you are in your last minute—you need to finish in the next 30 seconds.

Alex Rowley Lab

I will do so. Having been proud to serve as a Labour councillor over many years, I just say to Joan McAlpine that the fact is that this year local councils a...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the publication of “A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Our Delivery Plan to 2021 for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons wit...

Adam Tomkins Con

Will Sandra White take an intervention on that point?

Sandra White SNP

I will—if the member will first let me finish my point, please. How will taking £30 a week from disabled people who are moving from DLA to PIP help them?

Adam Tomkins Con

Would Sandra White care to reflect on there being 360,000 disabled people in work in the United Kingdom who were not in work two years ago? Is that an achiev...

Sandra White SNP

Mr Tomkins used the word “condemn”. He should speak to disabled people, because then he will see exactly who is being condemned by the UK Government. I will ...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

Does Sandra White agree that cutting three of the four jobcentres in the east end of Glasgow is not going to help disabled people?