Kevin Stewart
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“They don’t want you. The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. Anas Sarwar: Five years ago, the SNP promised recovery and failed. Is it not the case that the next five years must be about Scotland recovering from John Swinney and the failing SNP?”
“In 80 per cent of disciplines in the national health service, there are no waiting times whatever beyond 52 weeks. That is the Government taking action to improve the circumstances in the national health service. Anas Sarwar talked about a potential change of Government. People in Scotland need to be really wary about all of this.”
“Now, Anas Sarwar turns round and says that everybody was foolish to vote for that man Keir Starmer, whom he had argued that we should all vote for. That tells us that Mr Sarwar is a man of poor judgment that the people of Scotland should not listen to and will not listen to on 7 May. Free Bus Travel 3.”
“[Interruption.] Gillian Martin: There might be groans from those to the left of me, who do not want to grow our economy by investing in new technologies for our energy, but Kevin Stewart is absolutely right: that is a key example of how the constraints of devolution mean that we are, effectively, trying to deliver societal and economic tr…”
“When it comes to the current situation in the middle east, decisions by the Scottish Government to increase the amount of electricity that is generated in Scotland from low-cost renewable sources has put us in a position whereby electricity bills should be a lot lower for people in Scotland, and are a clear example of why those powers sho…”
“The cabinet secretary pointed out in her statement that the SNP Government has increased the amount of electricity that is generated in Scotland from low- cost renewable sources and has put Scotland in a more energy-secure position.”
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“I, too, welcome the WASPI women to the chamber, and particularly my constituent Linda Carmichael. We probably see each another far too often, and I hope that, at some point, we will be able to meet after the resolution of the issue. Paul O’Kane talked about others kicking the ball into the long grass. Liz Kendall has burst the ball and run away with it, but she did say sorry. What annoys me most is the weasel words in the Labour amendment, which says that “the UK Government should look at all options for remedy”. The ombudsman has already come up with a remedy. It is on page 88 of the report. It is impossible to miss it. It is right there under the title “Financial remedy”. As Mr O’Kane, who is not in his place in the chamber at the moment, has not read it, I will read it out for him and others in the chamber.”
“That said, and as I am coming on to outline the position of members on the Labour benches, it is clear that more could be done to look at fair and flexible compensation, to be provided in particular to those who have been the most adversely impacted by the maladministration that was outlined by the ombudsman in her report. I think that we will hear examples of that in the course of the debate. I recognise that arguments have been made that many WASPI women were not adversely impacted by pension age changes and that, if the maladministration had not occurred, it may not have made a difference, but we need to drill into that in terms of what the ombudsman has said.”
“The current UK Government has inherited a horrendous financial situation from the previous Government, and the new Government has had to deal with a long legacy of unresolved issues—not just WASPI women, but the infected blood scandal, the Horizon Post Office scandal, Windrush and others. I am saying that to set the context, and I think that that is important to consider in terms of any future decisions. I think that all of us in the chamber would recognise that Governments have to make decisions and that the previous UK Government left behind a huge in- tray of issues for the current UK Government to deal with.”
“Will Mr O’Kane give way? Paul O’Kane: Not at this stage. I have much to get through, as Mr Stewart will appreciate. I recognise the importance of what the ombudsman has said about the apology and those other actions, and I recognise that, for many WASPI women, including those in the gallery and those who will be watching today, that action does not go far enough. That is the point that I am coming on to, which members are highlighting. That action does not go far enough. That is why we, in Scottish Labour, have been clear that the UK Government should not close the door on this issue and should think again about the whole issue of compensation following the apology. I also have to accept and acknowledge what has been said about the economic circumstances.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the British Chambers of Commerce quarterly economic survey, which has suggested that business confidence has fallen to its lowest level for two years, including in Scotland, because of issues such as the United Kingdom Government’s decision to raise employer national insurance contributions. (S6O-04185)”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the impact of the increase in employer national insurance contributions on the public and third sectors in Scotland. (S6O-04182)”
“I have spoken about the regular engagement that took place, and funding was provided by the Scottish Government to secure care providers to make any necessary changes or adaptations that were required. I will continue to listen to secure care providers about any concerns that they may have in the light of the move that has been made. The Deputy Presiding Officer: It would be helpful, minister, if you addressed your remarks towards the microphone, although I know that it is counterintuitive when speaking to somebody behind you. Natalie Don-Innes: Apologies,”
“I welcome the work that the Government did through the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, particularly in ensuring that children and young people are not placed in adult institutions. Can the minister tell us more about the support that the Government has provided to secure providers to help them to plan for children moving from young offenders institutions into secure care? Natalie Don-Innes: We wanted to prioritise that prior to the provisions in the bill being implemented. I felt that that was a very important issue that came out of the bill process. We moved at pace to ensure that secure care providers were supported to be able to take children from young offenders institutions.”
“Kevin Stewart: —to put party politics aside and to support the budget. 16:04”
“What is more, there is also funding for the new bright start breakfasts programme, which will deliver more breakfast clubs in primary schools. I know from my past in local government, when we introduced breakfast clubs in Aberdeen at an early stage, the difference that that makes to a child’s ability to learn, because hungry children find it difficult to learn in classrooms. The policy will help to ensure that no child starts the day hungry. However, it is not just education. Housing is another critical area that is addressed in the budget, and I am glad that £768 million will be provided to boost Scotland’s affordable housing programme. Given the news in the budget and the measures that I have outlined that will help to tackle child poverty, I call on everyone in the chamber— The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to conclude.”
“That will give our children the best possible start in life while allowing parents to re- enter the workforce, build their careers and improve their children’s lives. However, the support does not end there. The Government is investing in the future of our nation by investing in the education of our children. The budget will deliver a 3 per cent uplift in spending on education and skills to maintain teacher levels and invest in school infrastructure. That includes £120 million for headteachers to support initiatives that are designed to address the poverty-related attainment gap, because we know that education is one of the keys to breaking the cycle of poverty. The budget includes plans to expand free school meals to primary 6 and 7 children from low- income families, which will ensure that all children have access to nutritious meals.”
“However, the Scottish child payment is not enough by itself. One of the biggest drivers of child poverty in the UK is the UK Government’s two- child cap. Ending that despicable UK policy in Scotland is a major part of the budget, and its removal could lift more than 15,000 children out of poverty. By taking that first step, we are sending a clear message that every child in Scotland deserves a fair start in life. The Government is also prioritising early learning and childcare, with almost £1 billion being invested to ensure that all staff in the sector are paid at least the real living wage. That investment will support the provision of 1,140 hours of affordable high-quality early learning and childcare to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two- year-olds.”
“Happy new year to you, Presiding Officer, and to members across the chamber. The Scottish budget is redistributive— unashamedly so. It will deliver reduced taxation for more than half of Scots, with lower-earning taxpayers paying 2 per cent less of their income in tax than folk south of the border. By reducing the burden of taxation on the many, the budget will put more money in the pockets of ordinary Scots so that they can support themselves, their families and, especially, their children. However, progressive taxation is not enough, so the budget also delivers progressive spending. The Scottish child payment is a key policy that will be supported by the budget. The payment has been a game changer in reducing child poverty, and its continued support will provide much- needed financial assistance to families.”