Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 January 2023
11 Jan 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
I rise to speak about winter heating assistance, which is a new benefit that the Scottish Government is bringing in to replace a previous one. We have been waiting years for it. With regard to its design, the Scottish Government said that it would leave no one behind and that it would be more appropriate for Scotland. However, when the Social Justice and Social Security Committee took evidence just before Christmas, we heard a damning reflection of what the benefit would bring. Energy Action Scotland was very clear that the benefit will make people who are experiencing fuel poverty worse off than they would have been under the existing scheme. The benefit has been years in its design, yet it is making people worse off.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-07459, in the name of George Adam, on approval of a Scottish statutory instrume...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I rise to speak about winter heating assistance, which is a new benefit that the Scottish Government is bringing in to replace a previous one. We have been w...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
For many of the reasons that the member has stated, Scottish Labour abstained on the regulations in committee. Voting against them would have meant that peop...
Jeremy Balfour
Con
I agree with what the member has said. The irony is that, as the committee was taking evidence regarding the regulations, the snow was falling outside and th...
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
Mr Balfour says that we cannot guarantee that there will be a payment in February. Does he recognise that there is no guarantee that people anywhere will get...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Wind up, please, Mr Balfour.
Jeremy Balfour
Con
If the member looks, she will see that everyone got money in December after that four-day period, but there is no guarantee from the Scottish Government. Tha...
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson)
SNP
If Parliament passes the regulations today, around 415,000 people will be paid an annual and reliable benefit to support them with their winter energy bills ...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
The minister has highlighted some concerns around the weather stations and the cold weather payments. Did he have any conversations with the Met Office when ...
Ben Macpherson
SNP
I refer the member to my evidence to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on that issue and to the point that I have emphasised about the fact th...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The minister must wind up.
Ben Macpherson
SNP
By comparison, our new, stable benefit will be an investment of more than £20 million next year for all those who are eligible, and we will uprate it in the ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question on the motion will be put at decision time. The next item of business is consideration of a Parliamentary Bureau motion. I ask George Adam, on ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question on the motion will be put at decision time.