Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 November 2025
04 Nov 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship
As a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I add my thanks to those who gave evidence—in particular, those who gave their personal experience from their own lives.
The report paints a bleak picture of where we are as a country. Nowhere is that more evident than in how we treat women—as others have said, it is mostly women—who are trying to rebuild their lives after abuse. Every week, women across Scotland make the incredibly brave decision to leave their abusive partners; however, too often, that courage is met not with safety or support but with financial barriers, bureaucracy and a lack of somewhere safe to go.
We talk about fairness and dignity in social security, but what dignity is there when a woman who is fleeing violence has to wait weeks for financial help? As Maggie Chapman pointed out, the Scottish Parliament has for 10 years had the power to establish split payments in Scottish benefits, but the Scottish Government has done nothing about that. Words are easy, but action is lacking in that area.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a Social Justice and Social Security Committee debate on motion S6M-19487, in the name of Bob Doris, on financial considerations...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
On behalf of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I am pleased to open the debate. Before I discuss the substantive issues that the committee ex...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you. I call Karen Adam to speak on behalf of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. 14:38
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to contribute in my capacity as the convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. I also welcome the report...
The Minister for Equalities (Kaukab Stewart)
SNP
I am pleased to represent the Scottish Government in this important debate. I thank members of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee for undertaki...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
As a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I am pleased to speak about the findings of our inquiry into financial considerations when l...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the other members of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee for preparing this important contribution to our national discussion. I am now ...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
Poverty, inequality and unresponsive, sometimes heartless, benefits and justice systems trap people—overwhelmingly women—in abusive homes. The report from th...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I, too, put on record my thanks to the members of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, the clerks and all those who provided evidence for this i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
We move to the open debate. Back-bench speeches should be up to four minutes, and I advise members that there is no time in hand. 15:07
Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
As a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate . According to Police Scotland, more than 6...
Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Before I begin, I thank the Social Justice and Social Security Committee for securing the debate, all the clerks who put together the report, and all the org...
Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, thank the committee, the clerks and the expert witnesses who helped in the creation of the report. I say an especially grateful thank you to everyone...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I add my thanks to the committee and all the stakeholders who participated in the inquiry—particularly those who are victims of domestic violence. I am plea...
Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this important debate, and I welcome the committee’s report. I am a previous member of the Social Justice...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
As a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I add my thanks to those who gave evidence—in particular, those who gave their personal expe...
Bob Doris
SNP
Will Jeremy Balfour give way?
Jeremy Balfour
Ind
I am afraid that I do not have time. Let us be clear. The SNP Government has had its powers over social security and housing for years, yet women’s refuges ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We now move to closing speeches. I advise that there is no time in hand and that any interventions should be absorbed within the member’s agreed speaking tim...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
I refer colleagues to my entry in the register of members’ interests. Prior to my election, I worked for a rape crisis centre. I apologise—I should have said...
Carol Mochan
Lab
In closing, I say again how significant the report is in contributing to the change that we all know needs to be made for women and girls who are fleeing dom...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Roz McCall to close on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. 15:37
Roz McCall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
We have heard some powerful contributions from across the chamber and I thank colleagues from all parties for recognising the importance of this debate. The...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call the minister, Kaukab Stewart, to wind up on behalf of the Scottish Government. 15:42
Kaukab Stewart
SNP
The debate has certainly given us the opportunity to reflect on the financial barriers to leaving an abuser. As we have heard, those barriers are complex and...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you, minister. I call Bob Doris to wind up the debate on behalf of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. 15:49
Bob Doris
SNP
As is traditional, I thank all members for their excellent contributions, but it was remiss of me at the start not to also thank our committee’s clerking tea...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
There will be a brief pause before we move to the next item of business.