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Chamber and committees

Delivering Record Social Security Investment in Scotland to Tackle the Cost of Living Crisis and Inequality - Amendment

  • Submitted by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-12079.2
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 07 February 2024

As an amendment to motion S6M-12079 in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville (Delivering Record Social Security Investment in Scotland to Tackle the Cost of Living Crisis and Inequality), leave out from "; welcomes" to end and insert ", but notes with extreme concern that the Scottish Fiscal Commission reports that, by 2027-28, the Scottish Government will need to find an additional £1.3 billion in spending from within the Scottish Budget for these demand-led payments; understands that the Social Security Scotland agency is set to cost taxpayers in Scotland £322 million in operational costs in 2024-25, which is 130% higher than spending in 2020-21; acknowledges that these benefits were first promised to be fully devolved to Scottish control by 2020, but that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently had to agree to extend the agency agreements to continue to assist and support the Scottish Government until 2026 as Social Security Scotland is, to date, unable to handle the full caseload; notes that these devolved benefits have not been significantly changed from the DWP criteria and that the promised review of adult disability payments may not be published until August 2025; acknowledges the disappointment from the third sector that the dedicated Minister for Equalities and Older People post was removed in March 2023, and backs the calls from Age Scotland and 15 partner agencies for this to be reinstated to ensure a targeted focus on tackling inequality, and welcomes the announcement by the UK Government that the third instalment of its Cost of Living Payment will be paid later in February 2024, benefitting more than 680,000 people across Scotland and totalling up to £900 paid to eligible households on means-tested benefits, and directly helping tackle the cost of living crisis and inequality equally across the UK."

Vote

Result 30 for, 85 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote Vote Defeated

Scottish National Party

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Scottish Labour

Scottish Green Party

Scottish Liberal Democrats

For
0
Against
Abstained
0
Did not vote

Alba Party

For
0
Against
Abstained
0
Did not vote
0

No Party Affiliation

For
0
Against
0
Abstained
0
Did not vote

Related motion

Motion ref. S6M-12079

Delivering Record Social Security Investment in Scotland to Tackle the Cost of Living Crisis and Inequality

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Monday, February 5, 2024

Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Paul McLennan, Emma Roddick
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Result 62 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote Vote Passed

Defeated related amendments

Motion ref. S6M-12079.1

Delivering Record Social Security Investment in Scotland to Tackle the Cost of Living Crisis and Inequality - Amendment - Amendment

Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Result 18 for, 94 against, 3 abstained, 14 did not vote Vote Defeated