Roll out of Universal Credit
- Submitted by: Jeane Freeman, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party.
- Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2017
- Motion reference: S5M-08035
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 03 October 2017
Motions as amended
That the Parliament calls on the UK Government to immediately halt the roll-out of universal credit full service due to the overwhelming evidence of the damage that it is causing recipients; agrees that the clear failings in the design and delivery of the system must be addressed; condemns the six-week wait for the first payment of universal credit, which is pushing people into rent arrears, debt and crisis; notes the evidence from a wide range of third sector organisations that highlights the hardship and harm being caused by universal credit; notes that the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into universal credit has highlighted the fundamental flaws that must be resolved before full service roll-out proceeds; welcomes the Scottish Government’s use of flexibilities over the system to provide recipients in Scotland a choice of more frequent payments and for the housing element to be paid direct to landlords, but recognises that this does not address the most damaging aspects built in to universal credit; recognises the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce split payments of universal credit and to work with stakeholders to consider how these can be delivered in Scotland; welcomes the joint letter from COSLA and the Scottish Government demonstrating the defects of universal credit and calling for the roll-out to be paused; observes that the independent Office for Budget Responsibility has said that universal credit is ‘less generous on average than the tax credits and benefits systems that it replaces’ despite original assurances that ‘no-one will experience a reduction in the benefit they receive as a result of the introduction of universal credit’; believes that the UK Government must stop ignoring the overwhelming evidence that shows the negative impact of universal credit full service and take urgent action to fix the problems and make the system fit for purpose and work for the people of Scotland; notes that the highly-complicated application process and resultant administrational errors have delayed payments, which have also pushed people into crisis; further notes that the aim to create a ‘truly digital welfare service’ risks excluding and disadvantaging people who are not online or computer literate; believes that the UK Government must put a comprehensive support package in place before universal credit roll-out accelerates, to make sure that people receive advice on managing their money, advances and dealing with complications in the application process; considers that, to support this, the universal credit helpline should be free of charge, at least until the roll-out is complete; recognises the importance of recipients having financial independence, particularly in domestic abuse settings, and therefore believes that universal credit should be automatically split between adults in a household.
Supported by:
Angela Constance
Vote
Result 75 for, 23 against, 0 abstained, 31 did not vote Vote Passed
Scottish National Party
- 50 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 13 did not vote
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For
- Aileen Campbell
- Alasdair Allan
- Alex Neil
- Angela Constance
- Angus MacDonald
- Annabelle Ewing
- Ash Regan
- Ben Macpherson
- Bill Kidd
- Bruce Crawford
- Christina McKelvie
- Christine Grahame
- Clare Haughey
- Colin Beattie
- David Torrance
- Emma Harper
- Fiona Hyslop
- Fulton MacGregor
- George Adam
- Gillian Martin
- Gordon MacDonald
- Graeme Dey
- Humza Yousaf
- Ivan McKee
- James Dornan
- Jamie Hepburn
- Jeane Freeman
- Joan McAlpine
- Joe FitzPatrick
- John Mason
- Kate Forbes
- Keith Brown
- Kevin Stewart
- Linda Fabiani
- Mairi Gougeon
- Maree Todd
- Mark McDonald
- Maureen Watt
- Michael Russell
- Richard Lochhead
- Richard Lyle
- Rona Mackay
- Roseanna Cunningham
- Ruth Maguire
- Sandra White
- Shona Robison
- Stewart Stevenson
- Stuart McMillan
- Tom Arthur
- Willie Coffey
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
- Bob Doris
- Clare Adamson
- Derek Mackay
- Fergus Ewing
- Gail Ross
- Gil Paterson
- Jenny Gilruth
- John Swinney
- Kenneth Gibson
- Michael Matheson
- Nicola Sturgeon
- Paul Wheelhouse
- Shirley-Anne Somerville
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- 0 for
- 23 against
- 0 abstained
- 8 did not vote
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For
0Against
- Adam Tomkins
- Alexander Burnett
- Alison Harris
- Bill Bowman
- Brian Whittle
- Dean Lockhart
- Donald Cameron
- Finlay Carson
- Gordon Lindhurst
- Jackson Carlaw
- Jamie Greene
- Jamie Halcro Johnston
- Jeremy Balfour
- John Scott
- Liam Kerr
- Margaret Mitchell
- Maurice Corry
- Maurice Golden
- Miles Briggs
- Oliver Mundell
- Peter Chapman
- Rachael Hamilton
- Tom Mason
Abstained
0Did not vote
- Alexander Stewart
- Annie Wells
- Edward Mountain
- Graham Simpson
- Liz Smith
- Michelle Ballantyne
- Murdo Fraser
- Ruth Davidson
Scottish Labour
- 16 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 7 did not vote
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For
- Alex Rowley
- Anas Sarwar
- Claire Baker
- Claudia Beamish
- Colin Smyth
- Daniel Johnson
- David Stewart
- Iain Gray
- James Kelly
- Johann Lamont
- Kezia Dugdale
- Mark Griffin
- Mary Fee
- Neil Bibby
- Neil Findlay
- Pauline McNeill
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
- Elaine Smith
- Jackie Baillie
- Jenny Marra
- Lewis Macdonald
- Monica Lennon
- Rhoda Grant
- Richard Leonard
Scottish Green Party
- 5 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
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For
- Alison Johnstone
- John Finnie
- Mark Ruskell
- Patrick Harvie
- Ross Greer
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
- Andy Wightman
Scottish Liberal Democrats
- 4 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
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For
- Alex Cole-Hamilton
- Liam McArthur
- Mike Rumbles
- Willie Rennie
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
- Tavish Scott
No Party Affiliation
- 0 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
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For
0Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
- Ken Macintosh
Original motion text
That the Parliament calls on the UK Government to immediately halt the roll-out of universal credit full service due to the overwhelming evidence of the damage that it is causing recipients; agrees that the clear failings in the design and delivery of the system must be addressed; condemns the six-week wait for the first payment of universal credit, which is pushing people into rent arrears, debt and crisis; notes the evidence from a wide range of third sector organisations that highlights the hardship and harm being caused by universal credit; notes that the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into universal credit has highlighted the fundamental flaws that must be resolved before full service roll-out proceeds; welcomes the Scottish Government’s use of flexibilities over the system to provide recipients in Scotland a choice of more frequent payments and for the housing element to be paid direct to landlords, but recognises that this does not address the most damaging aspects built in to universal credit; recognises the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce split payments of universal credit and to work with stakeholders to consider how these can be delivered in Scotland; welcomes the joint letter from COSLA and the Scottish Government demonstrating the defects of universal credit and calling for the roll-out to be paused, and believes that the UK Government must stop ignoring the overwhelming evidence that shows the negative impact of universal credit full service and take urgent action to fix the problems and make the system fit for purpose and work for the people of Scotland.
Accepted amendments
Roll out of Universal Credit - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Alison Johnstone, Lothian, Scottish Green Party, Date lodged: Monday, October 2, 2017
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Result 75 for, 23 against, 0 abstained, 31 did not vote Vote Passed
Roll out of Universal Credit - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date lodged: Monday, October 2, 2017
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Result 75 for, 23 against, 0 abstained, 31 did not vote Vote Passed
Roll out of Universal Credit - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Alex Rowley, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Monday, October 2, 2017
Supported by: Mark Griffin
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Result 75 for, 23 against, 0 abstained, 31 did not vote Vote Passed
Defeated amendments
Roll out of Universal Credit - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Adam Tomkins, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Monday, October 2, 2017
Supported by: Maurice Golden, Liam Kerr, Tom Mason, Annie Wells
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Result 23 for, 75 against, 0 abstained, 31 did not vote Vote Defeated