Chamber
Plenary, 25 Jan 2007
25 Jan 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
First Minister's Question Time
Senior Citizens (Poverty)
My final question is on a positive note. Will the First Minister consider fast-tracking a bill to means test prisoners? Senior citizens are currently means tested and regularly lose their homes to pay for residential care. If prisoners were means tested and they were awarded £1,000 for losing the right to vote or £3,000 for having to slop out, it could be pointed out to them that it costs more than £30,000 a year to have them incarcerated and that the sums awarded to them could simply be deducted from the £30,000, reducing their debt to society. Let the no win, no fee lawyers handle that one.
In the same item of business
3. John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP):
SSCUP
To ask the First Minister what further action the Scottish Executive will take to address the essential needs of senior citizens who are currently living bel...
The First Minister (Mr Jack McConnell):
Lab
As John Swinburne recognises, we have taken significant steps to address pensioner poverty, lifting 120,000 pensioners from relative poverty since 1997. The ...
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
Does the First Minister agree that fuel poverty among the elderly is a national disgrace? Fuel bills have doubled over the past three years. Since June 2006,...
The First Minister:
Lab
When fuel prices at source go down, the fuel and energy companies should reflect that in their prices—not only because of the positive impact it would have o...
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
My final question is on a positive note. Will the First Minister consider fast-tracking a bill to means test prisoners? Senior citizens are currently means t...
The First Minister:
Lab
John Swinburne perhaps speaks for many of us in the sentiments behind his question.I believe in the principle of ensuring that we can pursue those who are re...