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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 30 December 2024
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Displaying 1153 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Miles Briggs

I will pick up on the point that James Dornan has just made. The Government said that there would not be losers, but there clearly will be. As has been reflected in our discussions on the issue, I am concerned that the new scheme will leave behind many parts of rural Scotland that benefit from the current system because of the extra cold weather that they experience, and it will make them financially worse off. That is not a system that should have been developed, and it could have been corrected before now. I am concerned about what that means for some low-income families living in communities such as Braemar, Aviemore and across rural Scotland, especially given the recent weather. That is a problem that should have been fixed.

Minister, I think that the committee has expressed frustration today that we are putting in place a system that moves us towards a universal payment system for people—I accept that—but that does not take into account the previous targeted support that was based on the coldest weather that communities across Scotland often experience. That is not acceptable. I hope that the minister takes on board the debate that we have had this morning on the changes, so that support will be provided and people will be made aware of the additional support—many will not know where and how to apply for it. I hope that the Government commits to coming back as soon as possible to try to fix it and put in place a better system, because all of us on the committee hoped for and wanted a better system to be put in place, and it does not feel as though this has lived up to that expectation. Like Jeremy Balfour, I will not vote against the regulations, but I will abstain, because I do not think that we should approve the system as it stands.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Miles Briggs

The member represents a very rural part of Scotland. Payments have not necessarily been triggered there to the same extent as they have in communities in the north. Does he want his communities to lose out, in a way? We have no Aberdeenshire members, for example, on the committee. We were led to believe that no one would lose out, but this will result in communities losing out. Why has the Government not taken that on board?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Local Governance Review

Meeting date: 13 December 2022

Miles Briggs

Does anyone else want to come in on that?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Local Governance Review

Meeting date: 13 December 2022

Miles Briggs

I will follow on from those questions. From the earlier panel, we heard about the disparity between island councils and other councils. As an Edinburgh MSP, I am acutely aware that Edinburgh receives one of the lowest shares per head of population. Many of the problems that Scotland faces with homelessness are here in the capital, where we have 25 per cent of the homeless. The council continuously tells me that it does not have the resources to address that. Councillor Morrison, you are having conversations on reviewing the funding formula to look at councils that have historically lost out, such as Edinburgh. What plans are there?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Local Governance Review

Meeting date: 13 December 2022

Miles Briggs

I can come in at the end.

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Local Governance Review

Meeting date: 13 December 2022

Miles Briggs

Good morning. Thank you for joining us today.

Councillor Stockan, your comments on the national care service touched on this earlier, but I want to come back to how the new deal in this fiscal framework could be impacted by the creation of a national care service. Could you give us your view on that?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 8 December 2022

Miles Briggs

Finally, I want to ask a question about extending eligibility. What are the witnesses’ views on extending winter heating payments to support terminally ill people? Have you done any work on that? I will bring Frazer back in first.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 8 December 2022

Miles Briggs

Mark, do you want to come back in?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 8 December 2022

Miles Briggs

I have two short questions. First, with regard to the discussion that we have had this morning, what other support do you think that the Scottish Government should provide to families and individuals who are struggling with the cost of energy?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 8 December 2022

Miles Briggs

Thank you, Frazer, and sorry about the feedback. I think that we picked up everything that you said. I think that you were calling for more to be done around insulation programmes; I think that that is what you were pointing towards.