Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 November 2022
23 Nov 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Cost of Living: Mortgage Rescue Scheme
As Mark Griffin mentioned, we are living through a cost of living crisis exacerbated by the impacts of United Kingdom Government decisions and policies including Brexit and the economic mismanagement through the summer, which are resulting in soaring inflation and interest rates, including on mortgages, which is affecting many home owners. In that context, we welcome today’s constructive debate and the fact that Labour has chosen to use its time for it.
Our demand-led home owner support fund is the only such scheme in the UK. It provides support to low-income householders who have fallen behind on their mortgages and face repossession. The fund consists of the mortgage to rent and mortgage to shared equity schemes, which sit alongside advice services and legal aid support for home owners. I clarify that, as has been mentioned, it is a scheme of last resort. Every application is carefully considered to offer tailored support, which allows us to provide the most suitable option to home owners who are experiencing financial difficulties.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-06898, in the name of Mark Griffin, on the cost of living: mortgage rescue scheme. I invite members who w...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
This past month, Parliament used its powers to support renters who are struggling with the cost of living by freezing rents and banning evictions, which prov...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government (Shona Robison)
SNP
The member is well aware that we are reviewing the fund, including the eligibility rules for the mortgage to shared equity and mortgage to rent schemes. Ther...
Mark Griffin
Lab
I fully accept that there is a review, and I will come on to talk about that in a minute. However, in that case, and given that the review has been going on ...
Shona Robison
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Mark Griffin
Lab
Yes.
Shona Robison
SNP
I do not know whether—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
No—the member is winding up and cannot take an intervention.
Mark Griffin
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. In her amendment, the cabinet secretary misjudges the level of financial trauma that is already taking place across Scotland. I...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, Mr Griffin. I apologise, but, as ever with these debates, we are tight for time, so members will need to accommodate interventions broadly within ...
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson)
SNP
As Mark Griffin mentioned, we are living through a cost of living crisis exacerbated by the impacts of United Kingdom Government decisions and policies inclu...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
There has not been a successful application since 2016. Is there any insight as to why that has occurred, and does the Government have any reflection on that...
Ben Macpherson
SNP
We will, of course, cover that in the review that the cabinet secretary mentioned. However, to maximise the support, we are currently considering eligibility...
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Ben Macpherson
SNP
I am a bit pushed for time, but I am sure that Mercedes Villalba will be able to speak in the debate. Moreover, for many households who are struggling to me...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Miles Briggs. You can have up to four minutes. 16:34
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I thank the Labour Party for bringing this debate to the Parliament today. I always welcome the opportunity to debate housing policy, and, given the housing ...
Shona Robison
SNP
Ben Macpherson said that around 80 per cent of beneficiaries of help to buy would have been able to purchase a property without Government support. Given tha...
Miles Briggs
Con
It is quite clear whom the cabinet secretary does not want to help: it is the people she sees as the super-rich—people like nurses, police officers and teach...
Shona Robison
SNP
Will the member take another intervention?
Miles Briggs
Con
I do not have time. I have only four minutes. We need the Government to look at the situation. It used to support helping Scots to get on to the property la...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Miles Briggs
Con
I am sorry, but I do not have time. I have only a few seconds left. That is why members on the Conservative benches think that it is time to take forward ne...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am pleased to speak for my party in this important debate and I congratulate Mark Griffin on securing time for it. It is undeniable that the cost of livin...
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
I do not have very much time, but I will give way to Fulton MacGregor.
Fulton MacGregor
SNP
I know that the member does not like independence and would not vote for it, but does he accept that an independence referendum would give people a choice to...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
The great snake oil that the SNP tries to sell us is that independence would somehow be an antidote to all the problems that we face. It would compound all t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. 16:43
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
We again find ourselves debating the cost of living crisis. It is critical to people across Scotland and it is the most important topic of conversation, bar ...