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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 18 July 2025
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Displaying 1311 contributions

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Meeting of the Parliament

Child Poverty

Meeting date: 7 January 2025

Marie McNair

I take the opportunity to wish you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and everyone at the Parliament a very healthy and happy new year.

I speak in support of measures in the draft budget to tackle child poverty and inequality. Eradicating child poverty is not just the morally right thing to do; in the years that follow, it will be paid back in increased wealth generation from a greater number of skilled and creative young workers, and in savings across public services, from health to policing, given that there are long-term costs to public services associated with child poverty. Children in poverty are more likely to have poorer health outcomes, and children in the lowest-income households are four times more likely to experience mental health issues. It is right, therefore, that we step up to meet the challenge of eradicating child poverty.

Despite its restricted powers, the Scottish Government has kept thousands of children out of poverty by taking considered and significant action, yet we recognise that rates remain too high and that there is a real child and family behind every number. The Scottish Government has, therefore, set out a budget with clear action to tackle child poverty and inequality. In education, the budget will provide £120 million to headteachers to support initiatives that are designed to address the poverty-related attainment gap. The Scottish Government will also work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to expand free school meals to primary 6 and 7 children from low-income families.

The budget will also invest significantly in social security benefits in 2025-26, putting money directly into people’s pockets and ensuring that benefits rise by inflation. As the First Minister put it,

“Some argue that investment in social security is the wrong choice for us to make. But we know that inequality is bad for our health, bad for our communities and bad for our economy”.

That contrasts with the views of Labour and Tory politicians, who apparently believe that providing such vital support amounts to giving handouts. Such stigmatising language has no place in the Parliament or as part of a modern and compassionate social security system. Scrapping the two-child cap; increasing investment in the affordable housing supply programme; investment in breakfast clubs; and the expansion of free school meals will all help to tackle child poverty. Those policies are good for everyone. The Scottish Government’s decision to scrap the two-child cap—an inhumane and cruel policy—has been welcomed by many, including the Fraser of Allander Institute and the Poverty Alliance, and CPAG estimates that abolishing the two-child limit could lift 15,000 children out of poverty.

The Opposition lacks credibility, criticising levels of child poverty while supporting keeping in place the policies that are the biggest drivers of it. To continue with those policies makes children the victims of austerity. In their book “Social Murder? Austerity and Life Expectancy in the UK”, David Walsh and Gerry McCartney of the University of Strathclyde show the astonishing impact that UK Government austerity has had on life expectancy and mortality rates. On Labour and the two-child limit, they say:

“worryingly, the Party has publicly stated that they will not reverse the two-child benefits cap ... —a policy seen in many ways as emblematic of austerity”.

It is clear that Labour is letting the people of Scotland down. Labour in Scotland has no influence, as Labour HQ is not listening one bit to the Labour colleagues who are sitting opposite me in the chamber, not on the two-child policy, not on universal credit, not on the winter fuel payment and certainly not on the WASPI women—women against state pension inequality.

The spectacle of Anas Sarwar’s disingenuous belated call on the Scottish Government to mitigate his own party’s two-child policy illustrates that so well. Maybe Labour’s plan to abstain on the budget shows that it is struggling to articulate a vision for Scotland.

The draft budget is a chance for Labour—

Meeting of the Parliament

Child Poverty

Meeting date: 7 January 2025

Marie McNair

—in which we end child poverty in Scotland.

15:54  

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Scottish Fiscal Commission

Meeting date: 19 December 2024

Marie McNair

I want to look at that. There will probably be a reduction in disability capability assessments, but we will see what happens. Obviously, the budget is also burdened by the decisions that we have taken to mitigate Westminster policies such as the bedroom tax and the benefit cap. How much is needed to mitigate those policies? Is there any indication that the UK Government will scrap them, or do you anticipate that that burden on the budget will stay constant?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Scottish Fiscal Commission

Meeting date: 19 December 2024

Marie McNair

Good morning. The UK Government is planning to reform health and disability benefits. How might that affect the Scottish budget?

Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 18 December 2024

Marie McNair

In a recent joint statement, the Scottish Pelagic Processors Association and the Scottish Seafood Association said that the Labour United Kingdom Government’s increase to national insurance contributions could threaten the seafood industry in Scotland. What discussions has the cabinet secretary had with the UK Government about the impact that that could have on Scotland’s food industry?

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Post-legislative Scrutiny

Meeting date: 10 December 2024

Marie McNair

Good morning. In your opening contribution, minister, you advised that you will make regulations for child welfare reports. It might be helpful to the committee if you could say a bit more on the Scottish Government’s plans for that.

On the regulation of child welfare reporters, Scottish Women’s Aid and Children 1st suggested to the committee that some worthwhile changes could be made to current practices just now, even if the full implementation of the relevant part of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 cannot be delivered at the present time. Is that something that the Scottish Government could consider? What engagement is planned with those stakeholders—or is the work plan still to be worked up?

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Post-legislative Scrutiny

Meeting date: 10 December 2024

Marie McNair

I do not want to put you on the spot—

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Post-legislative Scrutiny

Meeting date: 10 December 2024

Marie McNair

You have said that you will be making regulations. Will that be at the start of 2025, or is it likely to be nearer the end of the year? I would like to get clarity on that.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 5 December 2024

Marie McNair

I have one final question.

Yesterday’s budget announcement that we will scrap the two-child policy in Scotland has been widely welcomed across the country. It is clear that we will require access to DWP data. There is a worry that DWP might not give that the priority that it needs, particularly when time is of the essence. Do you share that concern?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 5 December 2024

Marie McNair

I will stay on the same theme. What feedback do local authorities receive on their local child poverty action reports? Is it automatic, or do they get it only if they ask for it?