Shirley-Anne Somerville
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Laura Moodie: Does the cabinet secretary recognise the distress that is being caused to constituents, including a disabled veteran in my region, by the continued uncertainty around the scheme?”
“The Scottish Government has been working closely with Motability since March, and its notification of changes from 1 July in England, Wales and Northern Ireland—the 1 July commencement—is not set to apply in Scotland.”
“The Scottish Government is committed to working with East Lothian Council and private partners to unlock investment and growth at the strategic site at Blindwells, and we are providing £2.4 million of funding flexibility to support the development of the outline business case.”
“What reassurances can investors be given that the Scottish Government will work with them to deliver the project? Shirley-Anne Somerville: As I mentioned in my original answer, my ministerial colleagues and I recognise the strategic importance of Blindwells not just to housing but to the East Lothian economy.”
“Motability will continue to work with the Scottish Government to see what can be done, because it also recognises the distress and inconvenience that the situation is causing.”
“She said that she did not want to call out only Reform. Will she call out Alex Cole-Hamilton for mentioning the Third Reich or Daniel Johnson for making insinuations about fascism?”
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“Currently, the DWP requires the police to undertake that action on its behalf. I am content that nothing in those provisions runs contrary to the ethos and principles underpinning our devolved social security system. Regarding the provisions on data gathering, the UK Government has broadly mirrored the approach that was pioneered in our devolved social security system, and because of that, and because the provisions in the bill contain similar safeguards and exemptions in respect of third sector organisations, I am content to recommend consent. On eligibility verification measures, the provisions in the bill will allow the DWP to require organisations such as banks and financial institutions to provide data to establish an individual’s entitlement to benefits and to identify incorrect payments.”
“I am pleased to come to the chamber today to debate this LCM. As I recently noted to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I have a responsibility to ensure that legislation impacting on the devolved social security system is fully compatible with our principles and ethos. I am also mindful of the practical implications of any legislative changes and how they might impact on the safe and secure transition of benefits. I have scrutinised the bill and the ramifications carefully, and have engaged with the UK Government. I now recommend consent in a number of areas. On entry, search and seizure, the provisions will allow the Department for Work and Pensions to apply to a sheriff for a warrant to enter premises and to search for and seize items when investigating serious cases of fraud.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you. I will make sure that that is recorded.”
“Amendment 162 disagreed to. Section 21—Scottish Ministers’ power to direct the Accreditation Committee The Deputy Presiding Officer: I remind members that, if amendment 163 is agreed to, I cannot call amendment 164, due to pre-emption. Amendment 163 not moved. Amendment 164 moved—[Pam Duncan- Glancy]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 164 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you. I will make sure that that vote is recorded. For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 47, Against 69, Abstentions 0.”
“Our first plan led to the appointment of Scotland’s first women’s health champion, a new women’s health platform on NHS Inform, the development of new endometriosis care pathways, greater choice and access to contraceptives for women at community pharmacies, and the creation of specialist menopause services in every mainland health board.”
“The publication of today’s annual statement is a recommendation of the council that is intended to support greater accountability. I extend my thanks to the council and to the empowering women’s panel for their work to scrutinise our progress. I am pleased to discuss the range of important work that this Government is taking forward, but it remains clear that there is much more to do, and we are determined to deliver for women and girls and to address inequality wherever it arises. In 2021, we published our first women’s health plan, and we are currently working on the next phase, which we intend to publish later this year.”
“The United Nations sustainable development goals tell us that “Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.” Reflecting that, equality for women and girls is a priority for the Scottish Government and is at the heart of our vision for a fair and prosperous Scotland. The National Advisory Council on Women and Girls was established in 2018 to advise Government and others on what more we need to do to achieve gender equality. It made recommendations to the Scottish Government, which we accepted and are implementing. Latterly, it has focused on accountability and has been scrutinising how we are delivering on its recommendations.”
“Today, the Scottish Government published its first annual statement following recommendations from the National Advisory Council on Women and Girls. The statement describes the actions that the Government has taken to improve the lives of women and girls and towards gender equality. There remains much to do to tackle the challenges, barriers and dangers that women and girls still face, but the Scottish Government is committed to accelerating equality. At the end of this afternoon’s debate, my hope is that members will recognise the range of positive measures that we have taken towards gender equality in Scotland, many of which would not have been possible without the cross-party support of members across the Parliament.”
“Motion agreed to, That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Languages Bill be passed. [Applause.] The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S6M-18002, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on committee meeting times, be agreed to. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between approximately 5.45 pm and close of business on Wednesday 18 June 2025. The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Gaza”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S6M-17966, in the name of Kate Forbes, on the Scottish Languages Bill at stage 3, is: For 112, Against 0, Abstentions 0.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I do not think that I was connected, but I want to check. I would have voted yes. The Presiding Officer: I can confirm that your vote has been recorded, Ms Somerville. I call Tess White for a point of order. Given the connection difficulties that we are having, Ms White, we will proceed for now.”
“I urge the UK Government to match the ambition and investment of the Scottish Government and to work with us to help to end child poverty. I encourage all members, regardless of political beliefs, to work with the Government to develop a plan that will build on the progress that has been made and deliver enduring reductions in child poverty for generations to come. The Presiding Officer: The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues that were raised in her statement. I intend to allow about 20 minutes for questions, after which we will move to the next item of business. I would be grateful if members who wish to put a question would press their request-to-speak buttons now.”
“Covering 2026-31, the plan will be the final plan ahead of the 2030 targets, and it will be progressed by the Scottish Government that will be formed following the next Holyrood elections. That offers the opportunity to build consensus across the Parliament and Scotland on the actions that need to be taken in the years ahead. I thank the committees for their input to date, and I look forward to engaging with members across the chamber as we continue this important work. Together with our partners, including local government, we will continue to do everything within the scope of our powers and our budget to continue to drive progress towards the 2030 targets that were unanimously agreed by the Scottish Parliament.”
“Alongside our continued focus on delivery, we have already begun to engage with partners and Parliament to inform the development of the next tackling child poverty delivery plan. That includes launching our call for evidence in February and working with partners, including Young Scot, the Poverty Alliance and Changing Realities, to meaningfully engage children and young people, and parents themselves, to help to inform the next plan. The plan will also be informed by new research that we have published today, including the outputs from a review of international approaches to tackling child poverty and research that is focused on gender and child poverty, and by both the final report from our independent expert group on the minimum income guarantee and the advice of the Poverty and Inequality Commission.”
“The Scottish Fiscal Commission estimates that mitigation payments will be made in respect of 43,000 children at a total cost of £155 million in 2025-26, rising to 50,000 children and £194 million by 2029- 30. It is estimated that that mitigation will reduce the number of children living in poverty by 20,000 next year. In addition, it will significantly reduce the depth of poverty experienced by thousands more as a result of payments that could be worth more than £3,500 per child. As the First Minister has said, if the UK Government does the right thing and scraps the cap, we are committed to investing mitigation spend into further ambitious measures to tackle child poverty, enabling us to accelerate progress in the years ahead.”
“In addition, we are allocating £768 million for our affordable housing supply programme, enabling the delivery of more than 8,000 homes, with £40 million being targeted at local authorities facing the most sustained temporary accommodation pressures. It also includes further expanding provision of free school meals, so that around 25,000 children and young people can further benefit. Because the UK Government is failing to act, we are urgently driving forward action that will, in effect, scrap the impact of the universal credit two- child benefit cap in Scotland. I am pleased to announce today that, subject to the passing of the necessary legislation, Social Security Scotland will accept applications for the two-child limit payment from 2 March 2026, with payments beginning as soon as possible after that date.”
“The actions of the Scottish Government show that another way is possible, and it is one that gives us hope for the future. In the final year of the “Best Start, Bright Futures” programme and of this session of Parliament, we will continue to drive forward progress towards the 2030 targets and take steps to improve the lives of and outcomes for families. That includes further investment in childcare; delivering more free breakfast club places; providing additional support in school holidays for children with disability; and expanding our extra time partnership with the Scottish Football Association so that 5,000 children and their families can benefit.”
“It is deeply disappointing that the two-child benefit cap remains UK Government policy. That policy is estimated to have pulled more than 35,000 children into poverty since July last year, and estimates suggest that it will pull a further 20,000 children into poverty by the autumn unless it is scrapped. That inaction is made worse still by the UK Government’s plans to make deep cuts to social security for disabled people. The Department for Work and Pension’s own impact assessments highlight that, by 2029-30, an estimated 3.9 million families will lose out as a result of reforms and that they risk driving an additional 250,000 people across the UK into poverty, including 50,000 children. I urge the UK Government to reverse those damaging cuts and to work with us in eradicating child poverty.”
“We responded to the emerging needs of families by delivering £2.9 million of funding to cancel historical school meal debt and a £41 million package of measures to support households struggling with energy costs over the winter. As is set out in the report, 68 of the 113 actions reported on this year were either completed or delivering at scale, which is an increase from 60 as of March 2024. The action that we have taken stands in stark contrast to that of the current and previous UK Governments. Although I welcome the establishment of the UK Government’s child poverty task force, and early actions, including the fair repayment rate in universal credit and the Employment Rights Bill, the reality is that the action that has been taken so far has lacked the necessary urgency and fails to meet the scale of the challenge.”
“That investment enabled us to continue delivering critical support, including awarding more than £455 million to families through the Scottish child payment, providing support for more than 6,000 parents through devolved employability services and mitigating the UK Government’s benefit cap to support almost 10,000 children. We have also taken steps to further strengthen the support that is available. That includes the expansion of our ambitious fairer future partnerships into five more local authority areas, the expansion of our successful council tax debt pilot project into six new local authority areas and the delivery of a second round of our child poverty practice accelerator fund, which supports a range of innovative local action.”
“On delivery in the past year, 2024-25 saw some of the most challenging fiscal circumstances in the history of devolution, as the outgoing chancellor delivered unfunded tax cuts at the expense of public services and support for struggling families. Combined with the failure to inflation proof capital budgets, that meant that we had to make difficult decisions to prioritise spend and protect the most vulnerable in our society. Even so, we continued to invest more than £1.4 billion in support that benefited children in low- income families.”
“As is set out in the report, there is no single reason that the interim targets have not been met. A wide range of factors, including the headwinds of more than a decade of UK Government austerity, Brexit and the Covid pandemic, have all made meeting the interim targets particularly challenging. However, data demonstrates the significant impact of UK Government policies, which have worked against us—not least the two- child limit, which has caused poverty rates to rise in larger families, while they have fallen for families with one or two children. It is deeply disappointing that the interim targets have not been met. However, we have made progress, and we will continue to build on those foundations to reach the 2030 targets.”
“To put that in context, were rates in Scotland to be the same as they are in the UK, that would be equivalent to 90,000 additional children in poverty. Although the Joseph Rowntree Foundation predicts that child poverty will rise in other parts of the UK by 2029, it highlighted that policies such as the Scottish Government’s Scottish child payment and our commitment to mitigate the two-child limit “are behind Scotland bucking the trend”. Although our policies are having to work harder than ever to make a difference, modelling that was published by the Government in March reinforced the significant impact that those policies are having. It is estimated that the lowest-income families will be an average of £2,600 better off this year as a result of our policies, with that figure increasing to an estimated £3,700 by the end of the decade.”
“We are committed to building on those firm foundations and remain unequivocal in our commitment to meeting the 2030 targets and to tackling the scourge of child poverty in our society. Looking first at the interim target, statistics that were published in March and are presented in today’s report show that, despite significant challenges, levels of both relative and absolute poverty reduced in 2023-24. Although the long- term trend broadly remains stable, the proportion of children who lived in relative poverty in 2023-24 was the lowest since 2014-15, while the proportion of children who lived in absolute poverty was the lowest in 30 years. The rates of both relative and absolute poverty stood nine percentage points below the UK average in 2023-24.”
“The Scottish Government has today published its annual progress report on child poverty, setting out the detail of our continued implementation of the programme that was set out in the “Best Start, Bright Futures: Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022-2026” document and reporting against the interim child poverty targets that were agreed unanimously by this Parliament. In the past year, the Scottish Government has faced some of the most challenging fiscal circumstances in the history of devolution, but we know that the pressures on families who are in poverty have been greater still. The report highlights that, despite those challenges and the continued detrimental impact of United Kingdom Government decision making, we are making real progress in Scotland, which is changing the lives of families.”
“The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Meeting closed at 17:10. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit. Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“Motion agreed to, That the Parliament recognises the contribution to Scotland’s communities, public services and economy by those who have chosen to migrate to Scotland and build their lives here; notes that stakeholders from multiple sectors across Scotland have expressed significant concerns with the UK Government’s immigration white paper, and that proposals submitted by the Scottish Government to the Home Office were not included in the published paper; further notes that the Parliament has previously endorsed a motion calling for the development of a differentiated, more flexible migration policy, tailored to meet Scotland’s specific needs; calls on the UK Government to engage with Scottish Government officials urgently to ensure that the needs of Scotland’s businesses, public services and communities are supported, rather than harmed, by the reforms outlined in the UK immigration white paper, and further calls on the UK Government to ensure that a new youth mobility scheme is designed, with engagement from young people across the UK nations, to be as broad and inclusive as possible, restoring the greatest freedom of movement for young people as can be agreed with the EU.”
“For Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S6M-17906, in the name of Kate Forbes, is: For 67, Against 42, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The final question is, that motion S6M-17906, in the name of Kate Forbes, on a migration system that works for Scotland, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Against Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-17906.2, in the name of Michael Marra, is: For 19, Against 62, Abstentions 27.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S6M-17906.2, in the name of Michael Marra, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17906, in the name of Kate Forbes, on a migration system that works for Scotland, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to connect to the app—I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Somerville. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Against Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-17906.1, in the name of Liz Smith, is: For 24, Against 84, Abstentions 0.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am unable to connect. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Somerville. We will ensure that that is recorded.”
“However, I know that there is more to do, which is exactly why we will continue our work to mitigate the two-child cap, given the United Kingdom Government’s decision not to do so.”
“I advise the cabinet secretary—corroborating what she has already said—that, during my recent visit to Peeblesshire Foodbank, I was told that it has had fewer calls for its resources as a direct result of the Scottish child payment. Shirley-Anne Somerville: I thank Christine Grahame for providing that feedback. It is good to see the impact that the Scottish child payment is having in her community and, indeed, right across Scotland. As demonstrated by the Trussell Trust’s report that was published last week, food bank use in Scotland has decreased—there was a 10 per cent drop in the number of parcels that were distributed by Trussell food banks in Scotland between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. That is an important aspect that, once again, demonstrates the impact of the Scottish child payment.”
“Research that the Fraser of Allander Institute published in May 2024 suggests that the Scottish child payment has led to statistically significant decreases in food bank use by single-parent households with children under five and households with children aged five to 16 without younger children. Our evaluation of the Scottish child payment includes testimony from recipients that, before the payment, they relied on food parcels, needed to use food banks or skipped meals to ensure that their children would eat. Later this year, we will publish a further evaluation of the five family payments, which will cover impacts on food bank use. Christine Grahame: A family with two children aged under 16 that is able to access the Scottish child payment will receive £54.30 a week. That makes a big difference.”
“That will ensure that the matter is looked at right across the Government in a consistent manner, and that work has already begun. Scottish Child Payment (Impact on Food Poverty) 6.”
“Rachael Hamilton: The consultation document says that the EHRC has updated the definition of sex throughout the code of practice to “Legal sex is the sex that was recorded at your birth.” If the cabinet secretary is clear about that definition, when will the Scottish Government implement the updated EHRC definition of sex when delivering guidance on the provision of single-sex spaces in public institutions such as schools, hospitals and prisons? Shirley-Anne Somerville: As I have mentioned in the chamber previously, the Government has already begun its work to ensure implementation of the Supreme Court judgment. I have talked previously about the important work that is being undertaken by the short-life working group that I asked the permanent secretary to stand up.”
“The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I were due to meet the Equality and Human Rights Commission on 24 April. However, that meeting was, unfortunately, cancelled by the EHRC. Scottish Government officials met the EHRC on 30 April, and it was agreed at that meeting that there would be further engagement when the consultation had been published. We are currently scheduling a ministerial meeting with the EHRC to discuss the consultation that is now open.”
“As I said in my original answer, some of the developments around that can include keeping people updated on their application, but we are also doing a great deal of work to ensure that the application forms and supporting information are collated in a way that allows the agency to make a decision as quickly as possible. I assure the member that I take the issue very seriously and am in close contact with the agency, particularly on child disability payment. However, if he has particular concerns over constituency cases, I would be happy to look at them, should he wish me to do so.”
“There is no dignity in that approach, so does the cabinet secretary agree that that needs to change and that Social Security Scotland must improve both its processing times and its proactive communication with applicants for child disability payment? Shirley-Anne Somerville: As I have mentioned in the chamber on a number of occasions, we take the processing times for child disability payment and adult disability payment very seriously. A great deal of work has been undertaken to ensure that we are listening and learning, as the service develops.”
“Paul Sweeney: If I may provide some feedback, when Social Security Scotland was first established, we were promised that Scotland would be getting a benefits system that had the principles of dignity, fairness and respect at its core, yet I am regularly having to support constituents who, once they make their application for a child disability payment, get zero communications from Social Security Scotland for months on end, only getting feedback after the intervention of my office. That is unacceptable. With the median average processing time for child disability payment increasing from 73 working days to 79 working days over the past quarter, that lack of communication is increasingly distressing for constituents forced to wait and wonder whether their application has been successful.”
“Social Security Scotland is committed to improving communications with child disability payment applicants. Applicants are asked to share their communication needs or preferences in application forms. Those are recorded and can be updated at any time. People can request letters in different languages and accessible formats, including Braille, easy read and large print. Email and text updates were introduced in 2024 to keep child disability payment applicants informed at key application stages. Social Security Scotland seeks feedback from stakeholders and clients to ensure that it communicates in a way that meets people’s needs with dignity, fairness and respect.”
“In addition, the Government will continue to engage with the EHRC at official and ministerial levels, and we encourage everyone who has an interest in the consultation to engage with that process and ask the EHRC to support them in the manner that we would all expect.”
“We should focus on the root causes of the real violence and structural oppression that women and trans people face. How will the Scottish Government engage further with the EHRC consultation on the final guidance to ensure that it does not further infringe on trans people’s dignity and rights, which they have successfully had for decades? Shirley-Anne Somerville: Mark Ruskell again rightly alerts the Parliament to the continuing violence, discrimination and abuse that members of the LGBTQI+ community—especially members of the transgender community—face, given recent events. As I said in my initial answer, we have called for the code of practice consultation to be fully inclusive.”
“Following the Supreme Court judgment, I met our LGBTQI+ stakeholders to discuss the concerns of the transgender community. The Scottish Government will continue to engage with LGBTQI+ stakeholders while the Equality and Human Rights Commission consults on its updated code of practice. The Scottish ministers have consistently called for everyone who is engaged in the debate to be respectful and mindful of their tone. We have also repeatedly called for the consultation on the code of practice to be fully inclusive, and we have highlighted that to the EHRC. Mark Ruskell: I thank the cabinet secretary for that sympathetic response. The real issue here is the fact that the increasing levels of violence and discrimination that trans people face are destroying their dignity. Which toilets people use is an utter red herring.”
“The Presiding Officer: The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for questions, after which we will move on to the next item of business. Members who wish to put a question should press their request-to-speak buttons now.”
“Crisis has previously stated that we cannot ignore the essential role that local housing allowance rates play in preventing and ending homelessness, which is why the LHA rate should cover the bottom 30 per cent of rents in a given area as an absolute minimum. That is an issue that I have repeatedly raised with the UK Government’s child poverty task force, as such a policy would provide vital protection to those living in the private rented sector. The Scottish Government’s interventionist approach is making a positive difference. Although the situation remains difficult, we are determined to maintain our focus and work with our partners to continue to rise to the challenges. That is the formula for moving Scotland through and past the current emergency.”
“However, there remain a number of legacy issues, outstanding challenges and inhibitors that continue to present a challenge to delivery. The action that was taken in December 2022 by the UK Government to streamline the asylum decision-making process means that it will be challenging to reduce the numbers in temporary accommodation in the short to medium term, particularly in Glasgow and Edinburgh. I was deeply disappointed that UK ministers did not join a recent round-table discussion that was convened by the Scottish Refugee Council to discuss refugee homelessness in Glasgow, but participation by Scottish ministers in the work of Glasgow City Council shows that we are serious about working collaboratively on solutions. Other factors driving the increase in homelessness lie beyond the Scottish Government’s control.”