Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

The final item of business today is a members’ business debate on motion S5M-17505, in the name of Keith Brown, on the United Nations special rapporteur on e...

Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) SNP

Presiding Officer, “great misery has also been inflicted unnecessarily, especially on the working poor, on single mothers struggling against mighty odds, o...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate. Speeches should be of around four minutes, although we have a little bit of time in hand. 17:51

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con

While Dr Alston’s report makes many valid points, I feel that an opportunity has been missed to have a rational, reasoned debate on the issues that affect th...

Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) SNP

Unbelievable.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Will you stop shouting from your seat, please, Mr Arthur?

Michelle Ballantyne Con

I find it strange that Dr Alston claims that poverty is rising in the UK, when we can see from the social metrics figures that he relies on that poverty leve...

Keith Brown SNP

Michelle Ballantyne has spent the bulk of her time so far attacking the author of the report—the messenger. Does she accept the statement of the Conservative...

Michelle Ballantyne Con

I just did that. Keith Brown needs to listen to what I say, rather than working up interventions. We have had the introduction of the national living wage, ...

Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Will Michelle Ballantyne take an intervention?

Michelle Ballantyne Con

I have run out of time, so I need to finish. Sorry—four minutes is not very long. Not only that, but, this year, the UK had the lowest number of low-paid wo...

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

I thank Keith Brown for securing the debate and for drawing to the Scottish Parliament’s attention the UN special rapporteur’s report, which is a shameful an...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The last of the open debate contributions is from Elaine Smith. 18:01

Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I, too, thank Keith Brown for securing the debate, which has highlighted, in the chamber, members’ concerns about the findings of the UN special rapporteur o...

Bob Doris SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Elaine Smith Lab

Certainly.

Bob Doris SNP

Elaine Smith might suggest that the Scottish Government is picking and choosing what it mitigates, but does she accept that the Social Security Committee has...

Elaine Smith Lab

I agree that this Parliament and Government cannot mitigate everything, but the Government has been keen to say that the two-child cap is a despicable policy...

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government (Aileen Campbell) SNP

As others have done, I thank Keith Brown for securing this important and timely debate. As I set out in my statement of 27 November 2018, the Scottish Gover...

Elaine Smith Lab

I fully support the Government mitigating the bedroom tax. Given the despicable nature of the rape clause and the two-child cap, should that policy not be co...

Aileen Campbell SNP

Mitigating everything is not sustainable. There is £3.7 billion coming out of social security spending. We already spend £125 million to mitigate the worst i...