Alexander Stewart
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“Housing for older people is a key priority that is driven by an ageing population. Does the Scottish Government recognise that prioritising the right type of housing can improve quality of life and reduce the need for public services, particularly in health and social care? Màiri McAllan: I agree with that.”
“Suicide in young people has reached a crisis point. The breaking the silence suicide prevention project that has been piloted in schools in my region is a step in the right direction.”
“To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, despite an increase in the number of businesses pledging to pay the real living wage, the percentage of people actually being paid the real living wage or more has been decreasing for three consecutive years. (S6O-05654)”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of the statement. The Scottish National Party talks a good game on child poverty, but it has failed to back up those words with actions; it has failed to close the attainment gap, one in five children lives in poverty, and it has failed to make work a viable route out of poverty.”
“I spoke about not just the £90 million—now with a multiyear commitment—for our employability service, but also the £19 million that is going into the transport to employment offer, and the £15 million for childcare for priority families that need that support to enter employment.”
“The cabinet secretary is committed to increasing all benefits with inflation, but how much will that add to the already blooming benefit bill?”
The complete record
Every one of 374 lines we hold for Alexander Stewart, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 8.
“I want to be clear to them that what they are voting against is what somebody with lived experience of the indignity and trauma of homelessness described as the chance to change the course of a life. Meghan Gallacher: I am astonished that the cabinet secretary has made that statement, to be frank. If members consider what I have said and what the Scottish Conservatives have said this evening, they will find that we are principally opposed to rent controls. That is what we are against. As I have said, the bill is not a housing bill; it is a renters’ rights and homelessness prevention bill. If the Government had embarked on that track, it might have had much more success. We cannot and will not vote for a bill that does not tackle the housing emergency.”
“I agree with him about much of what he has observed, and I thank him for his considered approach and his support. I also acknowledge something that Alasdair Allan said. In a landscape of statistics and much strain on the system, we can get caught up in requiring a significant shift in the numbers, but Mr Allan pointed out that even comparatively small developments of affordable homes can be transformational in communities. That, among many other things, is what the Government’s affordable housing supply programme is supporting. I am very pleased that Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens have confirmed that they will vote for the bill tonight. However, I am frankly astonished that the Conservatives have taken the position that they have—that they will not support the bill. That is utterly appalling.”
“21:14 Màiri McAllan: After that lively contribution from the other side of the chamber, I wish to begin on a point of consensus, by acknowledging the considerable cross-party support for the bill that we have managed to foster. We ought to be proud of that, as that has not always been the case. We have been on a journey with certain aspects of the bill. Recently, though, when I have been speaking to housing stakeholders, among the many things that they have regularly remarked to me is how pleased they are to see politicians from across the chamber working together—not least on the very important exemptions from rent control that we have agreed today. On that point of consensus, I particularly acknowledge Willie Rennie’s contribution.”
“Despite the Bute house agreement ending more than a year ago, the SNP appears to have fallen hook, line and sinker for the narrative that rent controls need to be in place. It is time to talk about that narrative. We need to talk much more about the solutions that are needed. We need an attempt to increase the housing supply, and we have tried to move that forward. The bill was an opportunity to realise that and to deal with the housing emergency, but it has catastrophically failed to achieve what was set out. The bill is a missed opportunity, and it will risk making the housing crisis even worse— [Interruption.] For those reasons, Scottish Conservatives will certainly not support the bill at decision time—[Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: I would discourage members on the front bench from repeatedly heckling in that way.”
“Edward Mountain spoke about the way in which landlords have been demonised in the bill process, and the language that has been used. The needs of both residents and tenants and landlords need to be looked at in the long term to ensure that things will get better. In reality, the bill will not make things better—it will mean that there are still inequalities. Edward Mountain highlighted the finding that 33 per cent of landlords no longer want to continue in the business, and that is not the balance that we want to see. In the debate, we have heard a narrative that pitches tenants against landlords. As I have said, that is not the narrative that we need to hear, but it is the inference from the proposals in the bill.”
“That is not happening, but the bill will put in place permanent rent controls, which is misguided, as it will ensure that investment does not take place. Rent controls do not make homes. The bill will see fewer houses built and homelessness continue to grow. It is a missed opportunity. Councils will struggle to cope, and the bill will not do anything to help the housing emergency. Willie Rennie spoke about stamina. We have had a huge amount of stamina in going through stage 2 and stage 3, but the outcome is disappointing. What we have achieved is a long way from building confidence in the sector. It is not what the sector needs—the balance is not there, and planning is still a barrier. What we needed was confidence, stability and security, and we have none of that.”
“Many stakeholders, including organisations such as Scottish Land & Estates and the Scottish Association of Landlords, have continued to warn that the rent control proposals in the bill will hurt supply in the private rented sector. Members on the Conservative benches have raised concerns about those proposals since the start of the process, and we have spoken about examples in countries such as Sweden and Germany, where rent controls did not lead to proper investment in housing. The SNP’s failed experiment with rent caps in 2022 has not stopped the Government trying to make those damaging measures permanent. As I said, stage 3 has been a long time coming, and yet the bill will not contribute anything. In the debate, Meghan Gallacher said that improving the supply of houses should be a driving factor.”
“I am happy to close on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. The bill has had a long and difficult journey to where we now find ourselves. It was 10 months ago that we started stage 1; stage 2 covered numerous weeks of meetings of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee; and stage 3 has taken up almost three full days of parliamentary business. However, the legislation, despite all the time that we have spent on it, still does not represent the response to Scotland’s housing crisis that we so badly need. Despite all that time, we will not see one single home built as a result of the bill, and it also risks fracturing the lives of hundreds of thousands of privately rented households in Scotland.”
“Kaukab Stewart: I think the member for his questions—I will do my best to pick up on as many of them as I can. I reinforce the point that this Government will talk about neighbours and human beings and take a human rights-embedded approach. Therefore, our focus is not on numbers; it is on making sure that we fulfil the needs of Scotland. We understand the pressures that are faced as a result of a failed immigration system that is being perpetuated by decisions that are made in the UK. The UK Government has enhanced and sped up the processing of applications, but it has not provided adequate funding to enable the move-on period. We have had negotiations with the UK Government. As I said in my statement, the response has been disappointing.”
“I thank the minister for prior sight of her statement. In it, she indicates that the Scottish Government has always taken seriously its responsibility to promote safe and connected communities, and that it will continue to support and fund organisations that are embedded in communities across Scotland and engage in ways that bring people together. Although the announcement of additional funding is welcome, local authorities are facing financial constraints as they deal with the influx of individuals. What measures will the Scottish Government put in place to support local authorities; what discussion has it had with the UK Government about dealing with the number of refugees and asylum seekers; and what is its long-term approach to dealing with the number of refugees and asylum seekers, given the possible impact on local services?”
“The SNP Government needs to take a more positive approach when it comes to the realities of the defence sector. As we know, it takes an ideological stance, and that can make waves within the sector. We do not want to see that, and we need to ensure that the Scottish Government is adopting a more positive approach. The investments that have been made are putting Scotland firmly at the centre of the global defence industry, securing thousands of jobs for the future. We have arrived at this point through proactive, bold and ambitious investment by Governments that recognise the importance of the industry. The onus is now on both the Scottish and UK Governments to show the same recognition into the future. If that happens, this success will continue. 13:12”
“If we are to create that kind of environment, we must ensure that other yards can fulfil orders and provide capacity within the system. As I said, that investment will support thousands of jobs and will lead to more opportunities. It will cost about £250 million to build a frigate—which is about the same as what it costs the SNP to build a car ferry. Such investment does not just happen by itself or by chance. There is a real opportunity here to work with the UK Government. In the past, the Conservative UK Government was very much involved, through its national shipbuilding strategy. I pay tribute to what it did. That strategy, with its focus on creating new technology and new jobs, needs to continue. I hope that the current Labour UK Government will continue to support Babcock and other firms to ensure that that remains the case.”
“Part of the investment in the Rosyth yard includes building a new assembly hall, which will allow two frigates to be parallel assembled. That is another huge investment. Such investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure will support organisations and structures in Rosyth and on the Clyde. Paul Sweeney: The member is making a very important point about the capital investment that is required to get the shipyard infrastructure up to scratch. The investments at both Govan and Rosyth demonstrate visionary capacity growth through bringing more shipbuilding indoors— Scotland having a very rainy environment. Does the member agree that that is needed at Ferguson Marine, too, and that the commercial yards also need investment to get their facilities up to scratch? Alexander Stewart: The member makes a valid point.”
“That is a real boost to the economy and a shot in the arm. The new deal for the Clyde is a landmark moment for the Scottish shipbuilding industry. It is also a call to action for the Scottish and UK Governments. We now need to see them working hand in glove with industry in Scotland to ensure that that fantastic sector can capitalise on the opportunities that lie ahead. That includes supporting opportunities not only on the Clyde. Babcock in Rosyth, which is in my region of Mid Scotland and Fife, is in the running to win a £1 billion deal to build ships for Denmark. It should be supported, too. The chief executive, David Lockwood, said that he is “confident but not complacent” about the bid. It would follow on from the previous deal to build five new type 31 warships for the Royal Navy, which was worth £1.25 billion.”
“I am pleased to be able to contribute to this afternoon’s debate, and I thank Paul Sweeney for bringing it to the chamber. It goes without saying that the £10 billion deal to supply five type 26 frigates from Norway should be welcomed whole-heartedly. The debate is an excellent opportunity to do so, and everyone who has spoken has welcomed it. However, it is also an opportunity to look at the success of the UK’s defence industry in Scotland. The industry has gone from strength to strength, and that needs to be celebrated. The new deal will support around 2,000 jobs at BAE Systems shipyards in Glasgow, as well as around 2,000 jobs across the maritime supply chain. More than 100 businesses will benefit directly from the agreement, nearly half of which are small or medium-sized businesses.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether its current above-inflation public sector pay deals have appropriate contingencies in place, in light of the recent rise in the consumer price index and reported concerns regarding inflation. (S6O- 04976)”
“The member must be the only member in any Parliament in the world—maybe not in the whole world, but certainly in the countries that I can think of—who would argue that we should cut off our international links. Of course trade with the rest of the UK is extremely important to Scotland’s economy, but so is international trade. As a country of 5.5 million people, if we want to grow our economy, we have to look towards the rest of the world as a big market, as well as to the rest of the UK. Glasgow City Region Deal (Transport and Connectivity) 7.”
“The minister claims to be focused on international trade, yet Scottish exports to the rest of the United Kingdom are worth three times more than exports to the EU and the rest of the world. Why is the Scottish National Party so obsessed with grandstanding abroad, instead of strengthening the most important trading relations, which are right here with the rest of the UK? Richard Lochhead: I do not know what to say—I feel speechless after hearing that point. Is the member honestly suggesting that Scotland should abandon our international trade links and the tens of thousands of jobs in Scotland that rely on exports to overseas markets, in particular to the US but also to Europe? Of course, if we had stayed within the European Union, we would have obtained many more of the benefits of that relationship.”
“I urge members to support my amendments. I am pleased to support Maggie Chapman’s amendments 72 and 73 and Edward Mountain’s amendment 175, but I ask members to reject the others. Amendment 152 agreed to. Amendment 153 moved—[Maggie Chapman]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 153 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“Rather than focusing on penal measures that would lead to a reduction in the number of rental properties, we should support enforcement for compliance and uphold standards without undermining supply. Màiri McAllan: I am conscious that it is taking me some time to get through my opening remarks, so I will keep my closing remarks brief. I neglected to mention Edward Mountain’s amendments 173 and 174, which I am sorry about. The bill currently sets out that, where a rent control is in place, rent increases will be limited to one increase in 12 months, even if the tenant changes. As Mr Mountain said, his amendments would reduce the period to six months. I am afraid to disappoint him, but I cannot agree to that. I do not support rent increases between tenancies, nor a shortening of those important periods.”
“My question is this: how did Maggie Chapman arrive at 21 days as opposed to 30? What discussion took place between private rented sector stakeholders and tenant rights groups to ensure that such a period was proportionate and reasonable? Amendments 34, 35 and 36, in the name of Maggie Chapman, would introduce increased penalties for landlords, which risk driving good landlords out of the sector. The continued cumulative burden of regulations and financial risks on the sector would lead to property sales and a reduction in the number of available rented homes. The impact would be felt most acutely by tenants, because their housing options would shrink and competition for remaining properties would increase.”
“Therefore, I pose the question to Maggie Chapman whether she wishes supply, in particular in rural areas, to reduce further—because amendment 168 would do exactly that. Amendment 72, in the name of Maggie Chapman, refers to the situation in which a tenant receives written notice of a rent increase from their landlord. The amendment would change the notice period from 21 to 30 days. Amendment 73 refers to situations in which a tenant receives a rent increase and may apply to the tribunal for determination of whether the previous rent increase took place less than 12 months previously. However, they must first notify their landlord in writing of the reasons why they consider the rent increase to be unfair within 30 days of receiving the increase notice, rather than within 21 days.”
“On amendments 165 and 167 to 170, in the name of Maggie Chapman, Scottish Land & Estates has advised that linking rent caps with wages and earnings is not suitable for Scotland’s diverse private rented sector, and I fully agree. The sector has a wide range of property types, tenancy arrangements and landlord profiles, and rents are usually determined by factors such as location and the condition of the property. That is especially important in rural areas. Tying the rent increase to median earnings, as set out in amendment 168, risks creating distorted assessments of the market and penalising landlords who let below the market value. I hope that Maggie Chapman does not wish to increase regional inconsistencies and that she seeks to create a system that, at the very least, reflects conditions that are not based on income.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that more than 1,000 Scottish charities are closing every year. (S6T- 02674)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure freedom of expression is respected at cultural venues. (S6O-04932)”
“Business wants stability; it does not want to rerun 10-year-old constitutional debates, which would only create further uncertainty and instability in the marketplace. Nor does it want to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK, which accounts for more than 60 per cent of Scottish exports. In conclusion, there are many possible solutions to boost Scottish exports and to empower Scottish industries in the global marketplace. However, once again, judging from this debate, it appears that the SNP Scottish Government is simply not interested in finding those solutions. We export defence, we export whisky, we export salmon and we export financial services. All of those sectors are important to our economy, our stability and our prosperity. 16:32”
“I hoped that I might hear some balanced views today and that the Government might acknowledge the fantastic opportunities that are already opening up for some of Scotland’s export industries. We have heard today from Murdo Fraser, Stephen Kerr and others about the winning of the defence contracts, including the £1 billion contract for frigates for Norway, the manufacturing of which will sustain thousands of skilled jobs and grow Scotland’s economy and wider manufacturing base. We on the Conservative benches are fully supportive of Scottish exports, and we stand ready to support any measures that can help in that regard, including speaking out about the removal of regulatory burdens and working constructively with industries to support innovation and private investment.”
“In fact, it is the whisky industry that demonstrates the potential that now exists for Scottish exports. Earlier this year, the UK signed a free trade deal with India that will see the current tariffs on Scotch whisky slashed, and they will be slashed again within 10 years. That will deliver countless opportunities for the industry and will create jobs right across the country. The deal is expected to boost whisky exports by as much as £1 billion over the next five years, and the Scotch Whisky Association has called the deal “transformational”. The Scottish Government has barely commented on it. The opportunities for increased exports are not limited to India. We have opportunities the length and breadth of the country and the world.”
“Kate Forbes: What does the member say to businesses that say that Brexit has continued to have an impact on them because of complexity at the border? Alexander Stewart: We have said many times before that Brexit had some difficulties to start with, but exporting opportunities were achieved and continue to be achieved through our support for the wonderful businesses that we have across the country. Those businesses adapted, and they continue to adapt to ensure that they get those opportunities. That is very much the case. As I said, the Deputy First Minister is demanding that the UK rejoin the EU. However, the First Minister went to the United States this week to lobby for a reduction on whisky tariffs—something that is possible only because the UK is no longer a part of the EU. The demands to rejoin the EU are therefore quite ironic.”
“The debate is a welcome opportunity to acknowledge the high standard of Scottish exports, which span many different sectors from food and drink, including whisky and salmon, to the tech sector, arts and culture, and financial services. The debate could have been an opportunity to debate some of the challenges that those sectors face in a challenging global context. However, instead of having a meaningful debate, we have heard what we would expect from the Scottish Government and the SNP in that they have chosen to grandstand about constitutional issues. Last week, the First Minister tried to rerun old debates about Scottish independence. This week, the Deputy First Minister has rerun old debates about Brexit, and, in today’s motion, the SNP demands that the United Kingdom rejoin the EU.”
“Clearly, as the member will be well aware, there are confidentiality issues to be taken into account in relation to the commercial contract, and there are a number of other issues that need to be resolved. However, the company’s position, which is credible, is that it will restart production in the next few weeks. As I have indicated, issues around working capital have been resolved, and the company has a number of other plans that it is working to execute to further increase production at the plant once the first contract from Navantia is in production and is being shipped.”
“I hope that the minister agrees that the defence industry represents a vital potential opportunity for the Dalzell plant, which is encouraging. However, more clarity is needed before we can have confidence in that hope. What is the credible plan for restarting operations at Dalzell in the coming weeks, given that the plant has previously been unable to operate due to high costs? How can we be assured that the plan will meet the requirements of the new plate contract? Surely, workers’ morale will benefit more from clear transparency than from continued uncertainty. Ivan McKee: As I have said, I met the union and representatives of the workforce just in the past few days. They continue to engage with GFG and are provided with information to their satisfaction on developments as things move forward with that deal.”
“One measure to address that is the launch of the pilot scheme in which funding is provided to enable companions of people who are blind or partially sighted to travel on trains. That helps people to access not only work but leisure activities and to be connected to communities. That has never been so important across areas where it takes longer to travel. The delivery of targeted financial support, including the pension age disability payment, provides between £290 and £434 per month to eligible disabled people over state pension age. Measures such as the child winter heating payment also help in that regard. Small and Medium-sized Home Builders (Support) 4.”
“The Scottish Government says that it is committed to improving the lives of disabled people, but, for many people living with disabilities, there are still far too many barriers to getting into employment. In particular, people in rural areas have a huge issue, which we have seen in Moray, Orkney and the Highlands, where disabled employment gaps are much larger than those across the United Kingdom. What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that those gaps are closed, particularly in rural areas? Kaukab Stewart: It is unfortunate that UK Government leaders are backing cuts in that area, which is not helpful. Due to my extensive engagement with disabled people’s organisations, I am well aware of the variance in availability and access across rural and urban areas.”
“We cannot hear you. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Stewart. I do not think that the sound is working. Housing Emergency Action Plan 1.”
“To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is reportedly spending over £1 million every week on agency staff, in light of its having announced plans to reduce corporate costs. (S6O- 04881)”
“As I have said, we are coming towards the end of this parliamentary session, and I hope that the Government will finally take note of the flood of casework that MSPs are having to cope with. I have seen the situation in my region, and other MSPs are saying the same thing. The solution to it will, no doubt, be no easy fix—we acknowledge that—but we also feel that, instead of tinkering around the edges, the Scottish Government must commit to building the sort of modern dental service that communities, and those in rural environments in particular, need, and to ensuring that that approach to dentistry is in place for them. I and many others will keep calling for that repeatedly, because what is required is a safe support mechanism for individuals across communities. 17:54”
“I recognise that the Government is trying to do something, but its approach is not having an effect everywhere, and some locations are still finding it really difficult. Residents in the example that I highlighted are still hoping for a full return of adult NHS dental services, and I am disappointed that that has not happened, although I know that the Government, along with the health board—NHS Forth Valley—is still working to find solutions. Solutions have been found in some areas, but not in all, and more work needs to be done to ensure that people get the protection that they need for their oral health. Regardless of what the Government is doing, the fact is that there is a genuine need to tackle this agenda.”
“Dental services across Stirling are on a knife edge, and many locations are suffering. Infinityblu Dental Care and Implant Clinic, for example, announced that it would no longer be taking any NHS patients in the Callander area, except for those under the age of 18. Many people had been going to that practice for decades; at the time, constituents were told that they needed to go to other locations, and they were hugely concerned about that. Those in Callander had to go to Crieff or Auchterarder, which is a considerable distance to travel. The practice made it clear that it did not want to make such decisions, but it found that it was losing revenue on every NHS patient whom it treated. Since then, there has been an improvement in the situation.”
“There are also countless stories of constituents being forced to take private treatment, and even stories of patients doing dentistry on themselves because they do not have the opportunity to get treatment. Alex Rowley’s motion rightly highlights the problems with Breeze Dental Care in our region. Patients were very used to going to the practice; however, it said that it was no longer able to provide NHS services and that patients would have to sign up to a payment plan. That has been happening with lots of other dentists and in lots of other areas, and it is a real issue for individuals. As for those areas of Scotland that are affected, I know that, in my area and region, countless stories and amounts of information have been going back and forth, and MSPs will have found their inboxes full of such things.”
“I am very pleased to be able to speak in this evening’s debate, and I thank Alex Rowley for bringing it to the chamber. Four and a half years ago, the SNP made some very bold promises about the future of NHS dentistry across Scotland. However, with the end of the parliamentary session now in sight, the fact is that many communities do not have a dentist whom they can go to; indeed, such a prospect is a distant dream for them. We know that thousands of Scots have not seen a dentist for a number of years, and the number of young people who require dental treatment in hospital has increased in each of the past four years. From every corner of Scotland, we are repeatedly hearing that practices are no longer accepting NHS patients, and whole areas of Scotland are now being classified as dental deserts.”
“All the while, we are dealing with the expectation that Scotland’s capital block grant will be reduced by 1.1 per cent in the period up to 2029-30. Mr Stewart was absolutely right to recognise the difficulties that the Government is wrestling with, many of which are outwith its control, but he will have seen in my statement and from the Scottish Government a determination to overcome them and to ensure that there is sufficient affordable housing for the population of”
“The affordable housing supply programme budget has increased by only £12 million since 2018-19, which is against the financial backdrop. How does the Scottish Government expect that affordable housing demand will be met when a report from Shelter Scotland, the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations found that £900 million a year is needed to meet the affordable housing demand? Màiri McAllan: That is a reasonable question. There are two points to flag. First, let us not forget the economic circumstances that we have come through in recent years and the impact that those will have had on value for money and on the affordable home supply programme’s ability to go further in delivering housing. Let us remember that construction inflation reached 24 per cent in summer 2022.”
“Young People’s Neurodivergence, Mental Health and Wellbeing”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I apologise to you and the chamber for not being here to ask question 2, my portfolio question on education and skills. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Stewart. That is not a point of order. Nonetheless, I thank you for your apology. There was no clarification as to whether it was a lift issue, a dog- eating-the-homework issue or something else. [Laughter.] I highly recommend that Mr Stewart— and, indeed, all members—take a daily glance at the Scottish Parliament’s Business Bulletin. It is always a useful thing to do. With that, I thank the minister and conclude the portfolio session on education and skills. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business in order to allow front-bench teams to change positions.”
“Neurodevelopment of Children Born Prematurely (Support) 7.”
“Together with local groups, Clackmannanshire Council has voiced strong opposition to the proposed route changes and has emphasised the importance of maintaining a reliable bus service to Forth Valley royal hospital in Larbert. The concerns are serious, and the proposals could have a negative impact on elderly and disabled people who rely on the existing bus routes. What additional support is the Scottish Government considering? What is it doing to ensure that NHS Forth Valley assists vulnerable individuals? Jenni Minto: I agree that having good, reliable transport to health services helps everyone. That is why, as I indicated in my response to Mr Brown, I will write to NHS Forth Valley to underline the importance of its investing in transport in the Forth Valley royal hospital area.”
“Let us send a clear message that we are on the side of the taxpayer by supporting the bill. 21:07”
“To be clear, strong safeguards and independent oversight mechanisms accompany the introduction of those powers. That is fair and that is right for Scotland. The provisions will ensure that the Scottish Government and the UK Government will retain powers. We hope that any issues can be resolved. We also look forward to the DWP working with Social Security Scotland, which will focus on any disruption that might take place. The bill will support honest, hard-working individuals. It will also ensure that, when errors happen—many errors happen across the system—those are sorted. The Scottish Conservatives want to ensure that every penny supports front-line workers. The bill strikes the right balance between fairness and firmness. It will ensure that the Parliament has the powers to deal with these matters.”
“At the same time, what is proposed is not overburdensome, and the DWP will have access in order to provide support. We believe that a reasonable balance will be struck to ensure that relevant organisations are involved. The provisions on recovery and asset seizure in the bill are also very positive. Law enforcement agencies must be able to recover fraudulently obtained funds and seize high-value items that are bought with stolen money. It is simply wrong that individuals who defraud are allowed to purchase, for example, luxury items, simply because they have spent the money quickly. If we are to deter such actions, there must be consequences. The measures give law enforcement agencies legal powers to ensure that they can take swift and effective action.”