Hansard

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 ...