Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Tayside regarding staff numbers and future workforce planning. (S5T-01299) 2. Daniel Johnson: To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect emergency workers during the firework season, in light of the reported increase in levels of violence and (S5T-01303) intimidation that they face at this time of year. followed by Scottish Government Debate: Impact of the UK Government Welfare Cuts and Universal Credit on Poverty S5M-14621 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Impact of UK Government Welfare Cuts and Universal Credit on Poverty That the Parliament welcomes the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme — Poverty and Human Rights to the UK and in particular to Scotland this week as part of his visit to investigate the link between poverty and the realisation of human rights in the UK; condemns the unacceptable damage that the UK Government s welfare reform policies are causing across ’ Scotland, and the subsequent negative impact on poverty levels; agrees that Universal Credit is causing debt and hardship across Scotland s communities and calls on the UK Government to ’ Tuesday 6 November 2018 2 Today's Business Future Business Motions & Questions Legislation Other Gnothaichean an-diugh Gnothaichean ri teachd Gluasadan agus Ceistean Reachdas Eile Chamber | Seòmar immediately halt the roll-out of this; notes the conclusions of the Scottish Government s 2018 ’ welfare reform report, which highlights that the UK Government’s welfare cuts will lead to a £3.7 billion fall in social security spending in Scotland in 2020-21, including a £370 million reduction due to the benefit freeze; further notes that the appalling two-child limit has already reduced the income of 3,800 families in Scotland and this number is set to grow year on year and will result in a £92 million cut for families by 2020-21; raises concerns that UK Government tax and welfare changes since 2010 are estimated to increase the number of children living in relative poverty in Scotland by 8%; believes that the UK Government failed in its autumn Budget to support the poorest in society by lifting the current benefit freeze and addressing the fundamental flaws in Universal Credit, and welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring that dignity, fairness and respect are at the heart of Scotland s new social security system. ’ The Presiding Officer has selected the following amendments S5M-14621.1 Michelle Ballantyne: Impact of UK Government Welfare Cuts and Universal Credit on Poverty As an amendment to motion S5M-14621 in the name of Shirley-Anne — Somerville (Impact of UK Government Welfare Cuts and Universal Credit on Poverty), leave out from "condemns" to end and insert "believes that a social security system should simplify benefits, encourage those who can to work and support those who cannot, and that therefore the principle of Universal Credit is correct; acknowledges the difficulties that have been experienced during the roll-out of the system; welcomes changes, such as the £1.7 billion announced in the 2018 autumn Budget, which make Universal Credit more generous than the system it replaces, and believes that, with the powers under the Scotland Act 2016 to create new benefits and top up reserved benefits, the Scottish Government can no longer justify simply criticising UK Government policy, and must now focus on its own implementation plans."