Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Thursday, March 31, 2022

Official Report 1097KB pdf

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

I would be grateful if members could ensure that they are in the chamber for items of business in which they are involved.

The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-03904, on approval of a Scottish statutory instrument.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees that the Social Security (Up-rating) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 [draft] be approved.—[George Adam]

Members will recall that Willie Rennie spoke on last week’s social security SSI, so I will not repeat all the arguments and analysis that he set out at that time. However, I confirm that the Scottish Liberal Democrats cannot support this twinned SSI for the same reason, in that it increases disability benefits by only 3.1 per cent. That is well behind the 6 per cent increase that is being applied to other benefits. Indeed, the Office for Budget Responsibility now warns that inflation could peak at 9 per cent at the end of this year.

If the Scottish Government had got its act together in the devolution of those benefits, disabled people could have got more help with the cost of living crisis. Instead, they remain in the old system, seven years after all parties in the chamber agreed that powers should be devolved. That was the Scottish National Party Government’s choice and timetable, and the result is that disabled people are being left out in the cold. For that reason, Scottish Liberal Democrats cannot vote for the SSI.

First, I offer my sincere apologies for the delay, Presiding Officer.

As I set out to Mr Rennie recently, the Scottish Government is delivering disability payments under an agency agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions. We are uprating those benefits—the child disability payment and the adult disability payment—by 3.1 per cent, in line with the September consumer prices index. The reason for that is that, while we launch our benefits—the adult disability payment is our 12th benefit—and undertake case transfer into our system, it is extremely important that we do not create a two-tier system, and that Scottish recipients of working-age disability living allowance, child disability living allowance and the personal independence payment receive the same rates of payment as those on the Scottish child disability payment and adult disability payment benefits. Until the transfer process is complete, we cannot diverge from the DWP’s approach.

The hyperbole that was used by Mr Cole-Hamilton—and, previously, by Mr Rennie—is unfortunate. The Parliament passed the Social Security Act (Scotland) 2018. Since then, we have created our new agency, which is performing well. We have delivered 12 benefits, seven of which are available only in Scotland and not in the rest of the United Kingdom. It has been a remarkable process of significant achievement and delivery, through a pandemic during which both Governments—not just the Scottish Government, but the UK Government—had to consider priorities and resources. In that period, we delivered the Scottish child payment, which is not available in the rest of the UK. I know that that benefit is supported across the chamber.

We all want social security in Scotland to work, so it is important that we deal in accuracy, clarity and context. It would be better for the Liberal Democrats to participate positively and constructively in a shared agenda to deliver social security in Scotland. Mr Cole-Hamilton has never requested a meeting with me on social security, but he would be welcome to do so. If he would like a meeting, I can apprise him of the reality of the situation and the achievements of the Scottish Government.

I urge members to support the SSI.

The question on the motion will be put at decision time.

The next item of business is consideration of four more Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motions S6M-03862 and S6M-03903, on committee membership, S6M-03863, on substitution on committees, and S6M-03905, on suspension and variation of standing orders.

Motions moved,

That the Parliament agrees that—

Graeme Dey be appointed to replace James Dornan as a member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee;

Ruth Maguire be appointed to replace Fergus Ewing as a member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee;

Marie McNair be appointed to replace Graeme Dey as a member of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee;

Paul McLennan be appointed to replace Marie McNair as a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee;

Fergus Ewing be appointed to replace Ruth Maguire as a member of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee.

That the Parliament agrees that Annie Wells be appointed to replace Meghan Gallacher as a member of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.

That the Parliament agrees that—

Graeme Dey be appointed to replace Fergus Ewing as the Scottish National Party substitute on the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee;

Ruth Maguire be appointed to replace Emma Roddick as the Scottish National Party substitute on the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee;

Stuart McMillan be appointed to replace James Dornan as the Scottish National Party substitute on the COVID-19 Recovery Committee;

Fergus Ewing be appointed to replace Alasdair Allan as the Scottish National Party substitute on the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

That the Parliament agrees that, with effect from 1 April 2022, for the purposes of committee meetings up to 1 July 2022—

(a) in Rule 6.3A.1 after “member” the words “or members” be inserted;

(b) Rule 6.3A.2 be suspended;

(c) in Rule 6.3A.4 the first sentence be suspended;

(d) after Rule 6.3A.5(d) be inserted “(e) a political party withdraws in writing to the Bureau that nomination of the member or members nominated for the purposes of committee meetings up to 1 July 2022.”; and

(e) in Rule 12.1.15 the words “(other than a committee substitute)” be omitted in both instances where they occur.—[George Adam]

The questions on those motions will be put at decision time.