Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-04050, in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton, on the cost of living crisis. 15:30

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

I am very pleased to bring this motion before the chamber on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats in our parliamentary time. What began as a struggle t...

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

For clarity, I note that VAT policy is reserved.

Alex Cole-Hamilton LD

I am grateful to the member for that intervention, but, as I said, action is required from both our Governments—the UK Government and the Scottish Government...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Shona Robison to speak to and move amendment S6M-04050.3 for up to six minutes. 15:36

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government (Shona Robison) SNP

I thank Alex Cole-Hamilton for bringing a debate on this important topic to the chamber. We are indeed facing the worst cost of living crisis for generations...

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Shona Robison SNP

Just a second. The chancellor did not take the opportunity to help those who were hardest hit and has not only failed to mitigate rising costs but actually ...

Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab

The cabinet secretary is right to point out the failings of the Tory Government. However, does she also accept that the Scottish Government is failing by tak...

Shona Robison SNP

The member must have anticipated that I was just about to talk about our second tackling child poverty delivery plan, which was published last month and was ...

Alex Cole-Hamilton LD

Will the minister take an intervention?

Shona Robison SNP

Very briefly.

Alex Cole-Hamilton LD

I know that those benefits are controlled in London but that is only because the SNP has chosen not to take full control of the powers, which it has had the ...

Shona Robison SNP

That is not the case. Disability benefits are hugely complex and, as Alex Cole-Hamilton knows, work is well under way on transferring them. While they are ad...

Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Shona Robison SNP

I want to make some progress. More than 450,000 low-income households are protected from council tax bills through our council tax reduction scheme, with al...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Cabinet secretary, could you bring your remarks to a close, please?

Shona Robison SNP

Taken together, all that means that we are investing more than £770 million in tackling the cost of living crisis next year. That is a substantial package of...

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I begin by fully acknowledging that the current cost of living situation is a serious issue for many families across the country, who see their household bil...

Shona Robison SNP

Will Liz Smith give way on that point?

Liz Smith Con

I will not, if Ms Robison does not mind. Local authorities have warmly welcomed that extra support. As the Scottish Fiscal Commission has stated many times...

Shona Robison SNP

Will the member give way?

Liz Smith Con

Have I got time, Presiding Officer?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

If the intervention is very brief.

Shona Robison SNP

Obviously, any funds are welcome, but does Liz Smith not recognise that the new arrangements will involve £32 million being allocated to Scotland for 2022-23...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I am the one who does the refereeing here. I invite Ms Smith to respond to the cabinet secretary’s intervention.

Liz Smith Con

I am sorry, but I gave way to the cabinet secretary. I was simply asking about time. Let me say clearly that one of the reasons regarding the EU fund is t...

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

People in every neighbourhood across Scotland are struggling to make ends meet. Middle-income households are squeezed, and people on low incomes and those wh...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate. 15:54

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

I welcome this short debate and acknowledge the concerns and anxieties of households that face energy costs and costs of living that are skyrocketing. I will...