As an amendment to motion S6M-04621 in the name of Ben Macpherson (Update on Delivery of Social Security Benefits), leave out from “notes the more” to end and insert “notes the implementation of a clinically determined definition of "terminal illness" and fast-tracking of these applications for support; welcomes the introduction of indefinite awards within Scottish disability assistance, which provides the most severely disabled people with long-term financial security; looks forward to the introduction of new benefits, including Low Income Winter Heating Assistance and Scottish Carer’s Assistance; notes that social security is one of the three key pillars in the national mission to tackle child poverty, and commends the extension of the Scottish Child Payment to under-16s and plans to increase it to £25 per week per child by the end of the year; welcomes the substantial financial support that these benefits provide to people, which is important at all times and particularly so now as people are impacted by the cost of living crisis in the UK, and acknowledges the Scottish Government’s record investment of £3.9 billon in benefit expenditure in 2022-23, which is £360 million above that received by the UK Government, all of which will provide meaningful social security support to over one million people, including low-income families and households, disabled people and carers; is concerned that the £251 million cut to local government funding will have a knock-on effect on debt advice services, which will have a detrimental impact on low-income families and households; notes further concern at the published processing times at Social Security Scotland showing record highs, with many applications taking 30 days to process, almost double the average processing time of September 2021, which raises further concerns about how Social Security Scotland will be able to cope with the additional caseload, given that Audit Scotland forecasts that the Adult Disability Payment caseload will increase from 20,000 cases in 2022-23 to 475,000 cases by 2026-27; seeks clarification on how the Scottish Government plans to finance increased social security expenditure, with a projected extra £760 million needed by 2026; thanks the Department for Work and Pensions for its continued support in helping to deliver these benefits through agency agreements when Social Security Scotland was unable to meet its proposed timescales for delivery, and looks forward to finally having full case transfer, as agreed, by 2025.”
Result 28 for, 85 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote Vote Defeated
Scottish National Party
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Labour
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
No Party Affiliation
Submitted by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Supported by: Christina McKelvie, Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Result 65 for, 48 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote Vote Passed
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Supported by: Mark Griffin, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Result 49 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote Vote Defeated