Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-14160, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on building a social security system together and co-desig...

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People (Shirley-Anne Somerville) SNP

Last week, I stood before members in the chamber and outlined the great progress that has been made since the passage of the Scotland Act 2016, including on ...

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con) Con

I welcome the debate and the journey that the Government and the Parliament have been on over the past two years with regard to social security. The fundame...

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the cabinet secretary’s comments but, primarily, I want to thank everyone who has been involved in the experience panels so far. Each of them, alon...

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

There are, of course, a great many things that are deeply wrong with the UK’s current social security system. The real-terms value of many benefits has been ...

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

The Liberal Democrats welcome the debate, just as we welcome the next frontier of an agenda that has been driven, through consensus, by the Scottish Governme...

Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) SNP

I am convener of the Social Security Committee in the Scottish Parliament. I succeeded Clare Adamson MSP in that role, and I pay tribute to her work as conve...

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

There have been some positive contributions from members on all sides of the chamber and some good discussions about the feedback from the first steps of the...

Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) SNP

I think that most of us in the chamber were here when the Rev Ian MacDonald spoke to us about vision. On a very reflective afternoon, I have reflected on how...

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Like other members, I am proud to have been part of the process of co-designing Scotland’s new social security system, which is a powerful feature of our dev...

Shona Robison (Dundee City East) (SNP) SNP

I pay tribute to all those who have got us to this stage in the journey to build a dignified social security system in Scotland, including the work on the ch...

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con

By 2021, Scotland will be responsible for making more social security payments in a week than we currently do in a year. That is a massive undertaking, which...

Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP) SNP

Dignity, fairness and respect are important principles. We have used those words a lot and should make no apology for it. Keeping those important principles ...

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

The progress that is being made with the introduction of the new social security powers in Scotland has been commendable, and I consider the inclusive approa...

Dr Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) SNP

As members know, many constituents facing sometimes dire situations come to their MSPs for help with benefits issues. They do so, and will continue to do so,...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I am delighted to take part in this debate on Scotland’s social security charter. With 30 per cent of working-age benefits being devolved to Holyrood, along ...

The Minister for Older People and Equalities (Christina McKelvie) SNP

I am heartened to hear Alexander Stewart’s comments about the value of co-production. Will he recommend that approach to his colleagues in Westminster, so th...

Alexander Stewart Con

I am fully aware of what my colleagues in Westminster are trying to achieve. However, you make a valid comment. We can all work to try to achieve that. As I ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

That was an immaculate speech, Mr Stewart, apart from the fact that you used the term “you”. I will persist in correcting members on that. 16:32

George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) SNP

As colleagues have done, I welcome this debate, which comes on the back of a lot of work on the part of all the members of the Social Security Committee. I p...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to closing speeches. I call Mark Griffin to close the debate on behalf of the Labour Party. 16:37

Mark Griffin Lab

I am pleased that we have had a chance to support the progress that is being made in delivering Scotland’s new social security system. The charter and its c...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Michelle Ballantyne to close for the Conservatives. 16:44

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I hope that, at decision time, we will have consensus on today’s motion and amendments, and I echo the cabinet secretary’s statement that all of us in Parlia...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

I welcome the debate and the contributions that we have heard from members. It befits the charter’s importance that we have tried to achieve, and have succee...