Chamber and committees

Thank you for those reassurances. I am sure that this will be at the top of the agenda next week.

I speak in this debate as a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. I thank the committee clerks and the bill team for all their assistance during the scrutiny process, and all the stakeholders who gave up their time to give evidence to our committee.

The Scottish Government has already made excellent progress with the social security system by delivering 15 benefits, seven of which are new to Scotland, that tackle poverty and reduce inequality. However, we can always make improvements, and that is what the bill aims to do. It will ensure that our benefits system remains accessible and responsive to the needs of the public. It is vital that the bill upholds Social Security Scotland’s principles of fairness, dignity and respect.

At stage 1, the committee had some concerns regarding the provisions in part 6 on information for audit. It was welcome to receive assurances on that point from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice that failure to provide information requested as part of an audit would not be considered by Social Security Scotland as an indicator of fraud, and that no one will ever be investigated solely for providing the information that was requested as part of the audit process.

It was also reassuring to hear from the cabinet secretary that the provisions were not introducing sanctions, and that that will never be the case under this Scottish Government. That balance is crucial in maintaining trust in our system, after many have come away from the Department for Work and Pensions system feeling discouraged. It is appreciated that, alongside the public consultation that was committed to at stage 2, on categories of individuals who are exempted from participation in audit activity, the Scottish Government invited more than 20 stakeholder organisations to take part in a short-life working group to develop person-centred communications and processes in support of the provisions. It will be essential that information is sought only from the right people, and that no one is treated unfairly.

I was also pleased that the Scottish Government had committed to lodging an amendment at stage 3 on the duty to uprate all Scottish social security benefits by inflation each year. That embodies the progressive approach that has been taken to better address the financial realities that are faced by claimants today.

In discussing the progressive approach that the Scottish Government takes to social security, it would of course be remiss not to mention the winter fuel payment. It is welcome that the Scottish Government will mitigate the Labour UK Government’s cruel cut by reinstating a universal winter fuel payment, ensuring that every pensioner gets a payment next year. That will come as a great relief to my constituents and to pensioners across Scotland. It is further proof that the SNP will prioritise and protect those who are most in need, including our pensioners, who have worked hard and deserve a good standard of living. While the Labour Party has pushed pensioners into poverty, the SNP will protect them. Today, Labour has embarrassed itself with its amendment. The hypocrisy drips right out of it, and it is no wonder that Labour is not taken seriously. The truth is there for all to see.

The Scottish Government continues to have to mitigate the UK Government’s austerity measures, the benefit cap, the bedroom tax and now the winter fuel payment. Labour is the party of the two-child policy and its abhorrent rape clause. Tory welfare policy continues under Labour, and that is not sustainable in the long term. Only in an independent Scotland will we end that.

In the meantime, however, the bill is a testament to the Scottish Government’s commitment to a compassionate and fair social security system. It is a step forward in ensuring that our social security system meets our high standards and principles of fairness, dignity and respect. I welcome its introduction and I urge members to support its passage.

Good morning.

To what extent do local child poverty action reports give a true picture of the work to tackle child poverty that is happening on the ground at the local level? How can that be given greater visibility? Would you draw attention to any local action reports in particular?

Having the data is key to that, as well.

John Dickie, do you have any comments on that?

What can be done to ensure that the action plan is truly multi-agency, and that there are multi-agency actions in it to allow people to work together a bit better?

I agree with you.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that last week saw Scotland’s coldest early winter night since 1998, with temperatures falling as low as -11°. Does he share my concern and that of stakeholders such as Age Scotland that the health of older people across the country will be jeopardised as a result of the UK Government’s cruel decision to cut the winter fuel payment?

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to protect older people from heightened health risks in colder weather. (S6O-04017)

Does anyone else want to comment?

Suzi, I think that you have already expressed your view.

Does Jamie Cooke want to come in?

Sorry, I see that Susan Burt wants to come in. Sorry, Susan.