Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 16 September 2021 (Hybrid)
16 Sep 2021 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Fairer and More Equal Society
People who are living in poverty right now and who are watching the debate and looking at what is happening across both Parliaments and Governments seriously need us all to get our act together. The £20 uplift that was introduced during the pandemic, in recognition of the fact that social security was at its worst in decades, cannot be taken away because that will leave people in destitution. However, the Scottish Government cannot sit on its hands and point fingers. The Scottish Government is using the same arguments to not roll out payments to under 16-year-olds that the DWP used to not give the £20 uplift to those on legacy benefits—it is claiming that it is logistically difficult and that the information technology system is not in place. People out there really need us all to get our act together before poverty becomes part of more people’s lives.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-01248, in the name of Shona Robison, on a land of opportunity—supporting a fairer and more equal society....
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government (Shona Robison)
SNP
I am pleased to open the debate by outlining the action that the Government is taking to create a fairer, more equal society for all who live here. We are we...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does the cabinet secretary accept that the Scottish National Party Government’s attempts so far to scale up housing first have been a failure?
Shona Robison
SNP
No—I totally reject that. Housing first has been a success, helping those with additional needs, particularly those with addiction, to remain in a stable ten...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
Is the cabinet secretary concerned that the costs of setting up Social Security Scotland have now doubled and that we are now looking at £100 million being s...
Shona Robison
SNP
There are not cost overruns. We have already introduced 11 benefits and, when fully operational, Social Security Scotland will administer 17 benefits in tota...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
The cabinet secretary mentioned the transfer of disability benefits and carers benefits. We are consistently told that if we were to address eligibility and ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you some time back, cabinet secretary.
Shona Robison
SNP
Thank you. The system will be delivered better. It will be far more personal. At the moment, local teams are supporting families to apply for the child disa...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Does the cabinet secretary have any concerns about the quality of the meals that are being served to children in schools? I have had many representations fro...
Shona Robison
SNP
There are standards and it is important that all local authorities meet them. If the member has concerns about a particular authority, he should write to the...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
As the cabinet secretary did at the start of her speech, I begin by saying that I hope that we can, where possible, find agreement and consensus on a number ...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
It is with complete humility that I ask this question. How on earth can you stand there with any credibility or dignity and say that you are concerned about ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Not “you”, Mr Doris.
Bob Doris
SNP
—when the member is going to rob those vulnerable families of £20 a week? The most impoverished families, who are already on the breadline, are resorting to ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Speak through the chair, please, Mr Doris.
Miles Briggs
Con
Bob Doris will be aware that I am on the record supporting an extension of that payment. I note that the Scottish Government’s motion does not include any me...
Shona Robison
SNP
Miles Briggs raises an important point. We are working with local authorities to tackle the issue of temporary accommodation as a matter of urgency, and we a...
Miles Briggs
Con
The support that has been provided and the reforms that we have seen have been to try to prevent that very issue. I welcome the steps that local authorities ...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
People who are living in poverty right now and who are watching the debate and looking at what is happening across both Parliaments and Governments seriously...
Shona Robison
SNP
We are not dragging our feet. We are delivering bridging payments while those issues are resolved in order to get the money into people’s hands. Surely the m...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
I recognise that. However, 125,000 children who should get the under-16 payments are not getting those bridging payments because they are paid only to people...
Miles Briggs
Con
The number of homeless deaths in Scotland rose by nearly a third over two years. Would the member support my calls for the Government to hold a full review o...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
The drug deaths and homelessness show that we need to take homelessness and healthcare for homeless people very seriously. This morning, we heard that a home...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I hope that ministers were listening to that contribution, because it was one of the most powerful contributions that I have heard in the chamber for some ti...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. I call Neil Gray, who will be followed by Pam Gosal. You have around six minutes, Mr Gray, but we have a bit of time in hand, so ...
Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
SNP
A fellow Orcadian knows how this one likes to talk. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am pleased to be speaking in favour of the motion today, as it highlight...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
The member mentioned ambition. Our amendment absolutely recognises the work that is on-going but, as is consistent with the evidence that we heard this morni...
Neil Gray
SNP
Yes; obviously, we are in a tale of two Governments, in which one Government is investing in social security and one is cutting it. However, as I was going ...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I am slightly confused by that line of argument, because all social security benefits are demand led, yet this Government has been very happy to take on PIP ...