Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 01 November 2022
01 Nov 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Low Income and Debt (Report)
Thank you.
We have to look at the history and the fact that the Scottish Government has the highest budget in the history of devolution, but it decided to cut council budgets. That shows where the Scottish Government’s priorities have been and the consequences that those have.
People who are likely to experience poverty and debt are among the most marginalised in our communities. People with disabilities are most likely to face the highest excess costs in the UK. One in five disabled people and one in four families with disabled children face extra costs, which are now estimated to be more than £1,000 a month.
Other groups, including women, young parents and people who live in rural areas, were also highlighted to the committee. More needs to be done to ensure that those groups are provided with equal opportunities in order to stop them being disproportionately affected by debt.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-06374, in the name of Elena Whitham, on behalf of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, on “R...
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)
SNP
As convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I am pleased to open the debate on the committee’s important report on low income and debt. ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you and well done, Ms Whitham. I look forward to seeing you back at the members’ business debate later on. Before we move to the next speaker, I encou...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the Social Justice and Social Security Committee for bringing the debate to the chamber. Earlier this year, the Health, Social Care and Sport Commit...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Siobhian Brown to speak on behalf of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee. 15:16
Siobhian Brown (Ayr) (SNP)
SNP
As convener of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee, it is my pleasure to speak about such an important topic, and I commend the Social Justice and Social Securit...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I advise members that we have a little time in hand, so, for the foreseeable future, members who take interventions will get their time back. 15:21
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government (Shona Robison)
SNP
I am grateful to Elena Whitham and her committee for their substantial work on this inquiry. I thank the individuals and organisations who took the time to g...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con)
Con
One of the budget measures that had been hoped for was that free school meals for primary 7 pupils would be provided in this financial year, but that has bee...
Shona Robison
SNP
As Jeremy Balfour will be aware, the free school meal provision in Scotland is way in excess of that offered anywhere else in these islands—particularly Engl...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I note what the cabinet secretary has said about the child winter heating assistance. Does she agree that disabled people over the age of 16 also face increa...
Shona Robison
SNP
We recognise that. Many of the things that I have already talked about will help people with disabled family members. The Scottish welfare fund, which we als...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you a bit more time, because we have a bit of time in hand.
Shona Robison
SNP
That would be extremely helpful. Thank you. We have tried to bring together in one place all the information that I have described, because we know that it ...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I thank all those who contributed to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s inquiry, and I thank organisations for the helpful briefings that the...
Shona Robison
SNP
Does not the funding of all our public services—whether they are local government or national health service services—really depend on the decisions that are...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give Miles Briggs time back.
Miles Briggs
Con
Thank you. We have to look at the history and the fact that the Scottish Government has the highest budget in the history of devolution, but it decided to c...
Elena Whitham
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Miles Briggs
Con
If there is time in hand.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You have time in hand.
Elena Whitham
SNP
Miles Briggs mentioned young parents. Does he agree that the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions policy on how young parents under 25 are treate...
Miles Briggs
Con
I agree with Elena Whitham on that and, as I have said in committee, I hope that the UK Government can look at the issue. We have heard evidence that that ne...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I note that a number of members have been coming in and out of the chamber. I remind members that those who are participating in the debate should remain in ...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I put on record my thanks to the many organisations and people who gave evidence to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee as part of our inquiry a...
The Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth (Tom Arthur)
SNP
As the member will be aware, the review of statutory debt solutions will be carried out in three phases. The first phase was an initial response to the crisi...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
I acknowledge the work of the review group so far. However, as the minister acknowledged in his intervention, the detail of phase 3 has not yet been set out ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to wind up now, Ms Duncan-Glancy.
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
The Government must go further in encouraging more local authorities to follow suit. People cannot wait any longer. What more will it take for the Governmen...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. 15:51