Meeting of the Parliament 11 March 2025
I apologise to Mr Lumsden—I am just about to wind up.
We can go only so far in mitigating the worst excesses of Westminster. The Scottish Government has already spent £154 million this year alone on mitigating the impact of welfare decisions—and that is just on welfare.
As I set out at the start, the planned further cuts that are coming from the chancellor in the spring budget statement are deeply concerning for people across this nation. As a Parliament, we have to do all that we can within our powers to protect people during the cost of living crisis. However, we also have the opportunity today to stand together to call on the UK Government, before the spring statement, not to deliver those welfare cuts; to actually deliver some support for people who are suffering because of high energy prices; and to deliver on the promises that it was elected to deliver on.
I move,
That the Parliament notes that Ofgem’s energy price cap has soared to £1,849 for the average household, which is the third increase in a row and 9.4% (£159) higher than this time last year; recognises that this will compound cost of living pressures for households across Scotland; welcomes the Scottish Government’s action in the recently passed Budget (Scotland) (No. 4) Bill, including the reintroduction of universal winter fuel payments for pensioners and through energy efficiency programmes; believes that reforming energy markets and harnessing Scotland’s renewable potential will bolster energy security and, in turn, reduce consumer bills, and calls on the UK Government to make urgent progress on delivering its commitment to reduce bills by £300, against which no progress has yet been made.