Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 26 June 2019
26 Jun 2019 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Report
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, giving 2.1 million of the lowest earners a pay rise; we have had an extra £250 million to support the child element of universal credit; and, last month, working allowances were raised by £1,000, meaning that 2.4 million claimants keep more of what they have earned. Those things have happened, but they are not mentioned in Dr Alston’s report.
In the same item of business
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...