Douglas McAllister
MP for West Dunbartonshire · Labour · United Kingdom
“West Dunbartonshire is one of eight local authorities that make up the Glasgow city region deal. The local authority is delivering an ambitious project to create a major industrial and commercial development on the former ExxonMobil terminal site on the Clyde.”
“We are inadvertently helping to fund infrastructure on stolen land. We should be funding peace, not obstacles to peace, and not apartheid. Furthermore, the settlement enterprises know exactly what they are doing and they know that it is wrong.”
“Yes, I agree entirely with my hon. Friend, who makes a very good point. I think all hon. Members in the House have had the same volume of correspondence from our constituents, emphasising the strength of feeling up and down the United Kingdom. Today, the situation in the west bank and East Jerusalem is at breaking point.”
“For my constituents in West Dunbartonshire, a community geographically far removed from Palestine, the horrific injustice being inflicted on the Palestinian people resonates deeply.”
“Later, as provost during the 2014 Gaza war, I made the decision to fly the Palestinian flag from Dumbarton town hall—the municipal buildings. We were the first council in Scotland to do so. Yes, that was met with a backlash, but it sent a message of hope.”
“In May last year, we also rightly suspended negotiations on a free trade agreement with Israel. But guidance and warnings are no longer enough. We must ensure that the illegal settlements have no viable economic future. On 7 June, I proudly signed the letter co-ordinated by my hon.”
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“Will the Minister agree to meet me and to work with me and the relevant organisations involved with this issue to review the Compensation Act 2006 and discuss how we can make the necessary improvements by way of amendment, so that people suffering from asbestos-related lung cancer and their families can finally access the full and fair compensation that they deserve?”
“In my frequent meetings with the Clydebank Asbestos Group, I have heard personal stories about how this has affected people in my community and across the UK. It is outrageous that victims and their families are not being given the support, dignity and rightful compensation they deserve. The time for sufferers of asbestos-related lung cancer to receive the same recognition as those with mesothelioma is long overdue. It is incredibly significant and appropriate that we debate this today because 2026 marks 20 years since the last Labour Government introduced the Compensation Act. That is 20 years of sufferers of asbestos-related lung cancer not getting the compensation they rightly deserve, and it is time to make that change.”
“Closing that gap would not require a fundamental overhaul of the law; it would simply involve extending an existing and widely supported principle to a closely related group of victims. It is a simple solution, and it comes down to fairness. There is absolutely no justification for treating sufferers of asbestos-related lung cancer any differently from sufferers of mesothelioma. When compensation cannot be recovered from some employers because they have disappeared, who should bear the financial burden? At the moment, that burden falls on the victim suffering asbestos-related lung cancer. The law should allow those people to recover full compensation from any one employer who is responsible. That employer can then seek a contribution to the damages awarded from other responsible employers or insurers.”
“Making sure negligent employers and insurers pay the full compensation would also prevent the burden from falling on the state through the benefits system. Taxpayers should not have to shoulder the financial consequences of workplace negligence. The Compensation Act 2006 was a great piece of legislation brought in under the previous Labour Government. It just contains an unintentional oversight, and one that is easily rectified. Parliament did not deliberately choose to treat victims differently; asbestos-related lung cancer was simply not considered when the law was changed in response to legal developments concerning mesothelioma. There is a gap in the legislation.”
“Specialist practitioners estimate that fewer than 100 asbestos-related lung cancer claims are brought each year, and only a portion of those would involve missing employers. The number of people affected is therefore relatively small, but for those individuals and their families the consequences would be great. Beyond giving compensation to those who rightly deserve it, this small change to the Act would have wider benefits beyond the individual claimants. Patients with asbestos-related lung cancer often need a lot of care and support. With adequate compensation, they can afford additional care, specialist equipment, or medical treatments that may not be immediately available through the NHS. This gives patients the dignity and choice they deserve and eases the pressure on already stretched public services.”
“The solution to this problem is simple and not unprecedented. Parliament has already established the appropriate legislative model. Extending the principle contained in section 3 of the Act to asbestos-related lung cancer would allow victims to recover full compensation from any one negligent employer or insurer. The responsibility would then fall on that employer or insurer to pursue contributions from other responsible parties. This approach ensures that compensation is delivered quickly and in full to the person who needs it most, while still allowing the costs to be shared appropriately among those responsible. It is important to emphasise that the scale of this reform would be modest.”
“Six of Mr Heneghan’s former employers were successfully traced and admitted liability for exposing him to asbestos. However, several other employers who had also exposed him to asbestos could not be found, and neither could their insurers. As a result, although the full value of the claim was £175,000, the family received just £61,100. Nearly two thirds of the compensation was effectively lost. Had Mr Heneghan been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer strikingly similar to asbestos-related lung cancer, his family would have received full compensation. The disease did not affect Mr Heneghan any less severely because some employers could not be traced. The suffering endured by his family could have been eased, but because of the specific terms set out in section 3 of the 2006 Act, their rightful compensation was slashed.”
“In another case, a victim lost almost 70% of the compensation that would otherwise have been awarded. Across 33 documented cases concluded over the past seven years, the total compensation lost in this way amounts to less than £900,000, so this is not a vast sum in the context of the wider compensation system, but for the families involved it would make the world of difference to their quality of life at a time of immense hardship. One case that illustrates the human impact particularly clearly is that of James Leo Heneghan. Mr Heneghan was born in 1938 and spent much of his working life exposed to asbestos dust. He died from lung cancer in 2013. After his death, his son, Carl Heneghan, pursued a claim for compensation on behalf of the family.”
“As a result, victims are frequently unable to trace every employer who exposed them to asbestos, or their insurer. When that happens, they are able to recover only the proportion of compensation attributable to the employers that can be traced. That means that people suffering from a terminal disease can lose substantial amounts of compensation simply because some negligent employers have disappeared over time. That double standard of sorts has had profound consequences. In numerous cases, victims have lost tens of thousands of pounds in compensation because former employers could not be traced. The shortfall in compensation payments can be seen clearly. In one case in England and Wales, compensation that should have amounted to £112,000 was reduced by more than £76,000.”
“For people with asbestos-related lung cancer, the current legal framework creates a significant and deeply unfair obstacle. In many cases, individuals were exposed to asbestos by multiple employers over the course of their working life. Under the current legal framework, compensation must be apportioned between the different employers responsible according to the extent to which each contributed to the risk of the disease. Victims must therefore bring claims against every employer responsible in order to recover full compensation. Of course, the problem is that these illnesses often develop 30 or 40 years after exposure. By that point, many employers no longer exist. Companies have closed, industries have declined, and insurance records have been lost or destroyed.”
“Both are devastating and often fatal—in fact, around 60% of people diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer die within a year, which is a higher proportion than those diagnosed with mesothelioma—yet the law treats the victims of the two diseases very differently when it comes to compensation. That difference is not based on medical evidence or moral principle; it exists simply because asbestos-related lung cancer cases were not considered when the legislation was introduced in 2006. Does the Minister agree that this situation is irrational and unfair? I emphasise that this debate is not to do with the legality of proving whether the cancer is asbestos related or not; it relates specifically to cases where the patient has been formally diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer.”
“The hon. Member is correct to recognise that point. This issue cuts across all nations in the United Kingdom, not least Northern Ireland, with its rich and proud shipbuilding past. I thank him for his considered intervention. The difficulty is that the principle relating to mesothelioma does not apply to sufferers of asbestos-related lung cancer, despite the fact that the diseases are strikingly similar. Both are caused by asbestos exposure and have incredibly similar symptoms, to the extent that medical professionals struggle to differentiate the two.”
“For years scotch whisky has faced sky-high import tariffs in India—as high as 150%. The Scotch Whisky Association has described the tariff cuts as “transformational”, and the Scotch whisky industry supports thousands of jobs in my constituency. Does the Minister agree that the increased bilateral trade with India is set to grow the Scottish economy by £190 million a year and is a massive win for the whisky industry, West Dunbartonshire and Scotland?”
“Tomorrow marks the 85th anniversary of the Clydebank blitz, when across the nights of 13 and 14 March 1941, my hometown of Clydebank suffered horrendous losses: 528 people were killed, and of the 12,000 homes, only eight remained undamaged. I will be attending the service of remembrance at Kilbowie St Andrew’s church in Clydebank tomorrow. Will the Leader of the House join me in commemorating this occasion, and does he agree that all wars result in the loss of innocent civilian lives?”
“Under the leadership of Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour has set out a plan to deliver 125,000 new homes over five years, across all tenures—expanding affordable housing, reforming planning laws and establishing a housing investment bank to unlock land and finance construction. But we must also give councils the resources they need to meet their legal duties. The Scottish Government must intervene earlier to prevent families from becoming homeless in the first place. Every child deserves the stability of a safe home and a decent start to life. Rough sleeping among families with children is not just a housing issue but very much a moral one. No child in West Dunbartonshire, in Scotland, or anywhere else in our United Kingdom should ever have to wonder where they will sleep at night.”
“House building in Scotland has fallen dramatically—in fact, 5,000 fewer homes are being built every year compared with the years of the last Labour-led Scottish Government. Had the rate under Scottish Labour been maintained under the SNP, 90,000 more homes would have been built in the last 19 years. Imagine how many more families could have avoided homelessness if those homes existed. West Dunbartonshire has one of the most severe housing crises in Scotland. I frequently see children starting life on the back foot through no fault of their own. We must start building more houses. No one, no matter their personal situation, should be sleeping rough, especially those with children. How will anyone living on the streets improve their circumstances if they are not given the opportunity to rebuild their lives?”
“Last year, more than 4,500 children were living in poverty in my West Dunbartonshire constituency, putting them in a position of uncertainty and fear, and in uncomfortable surroundings, hungry, cold and often unsafe. This instability takes a toll on children’s mental and physical health, education and sense of security. It is an unthinkable situation for most of us, but a horrific everyday reality for many homeless people with children in my constituency and across the UK. The consequences can be tragic: new figures released last week show that in 2024, 231 people died in Scotland while experiencing homelessness. Those deaths should be a wake-up call to the Scottish Government and to every Government. At the root of this crisis is a shortage of housing.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool Wavertree (Paula Barker) on securing this debate on such an important issue. The levels of homelessness in our United Kingdom are appalling, and it is shameful that a wealthy country like ours has allowed it to persist to such an extent. In Scotland, the scale of homelessness and rough sleeping today is stark. Under the watch of the SNP Government, homelessness has spiralled: the number of open homelessness cases has risen by 58% since the SNP came to power in 2007. Devastatingly, someone in Scotland becomes homeless every 15 minutes and, as of September last year, a record 10,480 children were living in unsuitable temporary accommodation. That is a disgrace.”
“My West Dunbartonshire constituent Janice shared with me the very personal story of her daughter, who three years ago became so unwell that she was admitted to hospital. She was desperately ill, but she survived. The signs had been there, but they were missed, with the diagnosis coming at the very last moment, in an emergency setting. Will the hon. Member join me in commending the work of Diabetes Scotland and its efforts to improve testing, screening and early diagnosis in Scotland?”
“At the heart of Dumbarton high street stands Glencairn House, the town’s oldest surviving building, built in 1623 for the seventh Earl of Glencairn. It will be opened to the public this April after a £7.2 million transformation, supported by the UK Government and funded jointly by West Dunbartonshire council and the UK Government. It will serve as a modern combined library and local history museum in the centre of town. The Minister could visit in April, and perhaps even open it. It will bring footfall to local businesses, renewed pride for residents and a reminder that our past belongs at the heart of our communities. Local museums must be seen as an essential investment in identity, education and local economic vitality. West Dunbartonshire’s story, from ancient rock fortress to global shipbuilding powerhouse, reflects Britain’s story.”
“Clydebank Museum reopened after refurbishment in August and stands in testament to West Dunbartonshire’s industrial strength and community spirit. The nationally recognised Singer collection tells the story not only of sewing machines that transformed domestic life, but of generations of families such as mine whose livelihoods were tied to the factory floor. Singer’s factory was where my father worked. Maritime art and model ships recall a town that built vessels for the world, while exhibits such as “John Brown’s shipyard” honour iconic liners, such as the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Yacht Britannia—all of which were Clydebank-built. By bringing these stories together, the museum preserves our past, and shows why continued investment in local museums matters.”
“In the last surviving building of the Denny’s shipyards sits the Scottish Maritime Museum, known locally as the Denny Tank Museum—a reminder of the area’s rich shipbuilding and engineering heritage. Visitors can learn about the Denny ship model experiment tank, the world’s first commercial ship model testing tank. It is an example of engineering heritage that can inspire the engineers of tomorrow. In Alexandria, the Vale of Leven Heritage Centre, located beneath the newly renovated library, tells another chapter of our story: textile print blocks, Turkey red cottons and the Argyll motor works. Run by dedicated volunteers and supported by West Dunbartonshire council, it reflects the passion of local people to preserve their history.”
“West Dunbartonshire’s story is one of innovation and craftmanship. Dumbarton castle, owned by Historic Environment Scotland, is one of the greatest visitor attractions of my constituency, and one of only three royal castles in Scotland. Covering 1,500 years of recorded history and military use as recently as the second world war, the “Rock of Ages” exhibition in the Governor’s House Museum connects visitors with artefacts that tell stories of resilience throughout history. For centuries, Dumbarton has stood as a place of strategic importance, later becoming home to the renowned Denny’s shipyard, the engineers of which built celebrated vessels, including the famous Cutty Sark.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) on securing today’s debate. In my constituency of West Dunbartonshire, local history and strong ties to our past have shaped our communities and towns. In post-industrial areas such as mine, stories of the past are closely linked to identity, pride and local history. We have a rich industrial heritage, particularly in shipbuilding, distilling and textiles. Local museums remind people of their place in history, while attracting tourism, allowing us to share our story and support the local economy. We are fortunate to have several local museums in my constituency, each offering fascinating insights into our past through social history and local stories.”
“Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of my constituent Jagtar Singh Johal’s acquittal of all charges in the only court case against him in India that has actually proceeded to trial. Despite that, he remains arbitrarily detained in an Indian prison, as he has been for more than eight years now. Will the Leader of the House agree to meet me, together with his ministerial colleagues from the Foreign Office, to discuss our Government’s plan and what progress has been made to secure Mr Johal’s release and return home to Dumbarton? Just raising it with Indian counterparts is not achieving any progress.”
“Will she commit to continuing engagement to ensure that the vision set out by the independent palliative care commission is realised not just in one part of the United Kingdom, but across all of it?”
“A postcode should not determine the quality of someone’s final months, nor should hospices be left dependent on community fundraising to complete essential building works while additional public funding sits somewhere else in devolved budgets. Given the capital and revenue investment announced for palliative care in England, I ask the Minister whether she has held discussions with her Scottish counterpart to ensure that the Barnett consequentials are properly reflected in Scotland’s approach to hospice funding. In particular, will the Scottish Government set aside their Barnett share of the capital for hospice building improvement works announced by the UK Government?”
“I welcome the fact that the UK Government have committed significant investment to hospice and palliative care services in England as part of our long-term health planning. That funding recognises that palliative care is an essential part of our healthcare system for those receiving end-of-life care and their families. Having spoken to representatives from hospices in West Dunbartonshire, it is clear that there has been very little indication of the help that was promised under the Scottish Government’s palliative care strategy announced last September. Hospices in my constituency are struggling. They deserve clarity and transparency on where this much-needed funding is. West Dunbartonshire has some of the highest levels of health inequality in Scotland. That makes equitable access to specialist palliative care even more critical.”
“Modernisation is urgently needed to ensure that patients receive care in dignified therapeutic surroundings fit for the 21st century, yet the hospice continues to face a funding gap. Robin House provides extraordinary children’s palliative care to families facing the unimaginable. Its services embody precisely what the commission describes: holistic specialist care that extends beyond the patient to the whole family, including bereavement support. However, like adult hospices, it relies heavily on charitable income alongside statutory funding that does not always reflect the true cost of delivery. I understand that the findings of the commission relate to England specifically and to the Government’s 10-year NHS plan.”
“I note the findings of the independent palliative care commission, and I strongly support its call for a comprehensive, specialist palliative care service that is properly funded, accessible to all and available from the point of terminal diagnosis or advanced chronic illness. That vision reflects what families in my constituency need and deserve. St Margaret’s has served generations of families in West Dunbartonshire and beyond, and I am grateful for the formidable and irreplaceable stewardship of Sister Rita Dawson and her team of wonderful staff and volunteers. It is undertaking a £6 million refurbishment, and the work is almost complete, but there remains a funding shortfall. So far, all the money has been raised through donations and fundraising efforts.”
“The hospice sector in Scotland is under severe and growing financial pressure, with two thirds of hospices making cuts or planning to do so in the near future. That is due to underfunding that has left hospices stretched to breaking point; many are forced to cut services at a time when they are needed more than ever. Nowhere is that reality clearer than in my constituency of West Dunbartonshire, which is home to Scotland’s oldest and largest hospice, St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, as well as CHAS Robin House, which provides specialist care to babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions.”
“Scottish colleges are struggling to cope with huge cuts to staff and funding, including West College Scotland in my constituency. The Scottish National party has cut funding by 20% in five years. What can the Minister do, working with other Departments such as Defence, to ensure that Scottish colleges become engines of growth and opportunity again, particularly for the young people of West Dunbartonshire?”
“3. What assessment the Church has made of the potential implications for its policies of trends in levels of church attendance during Christmas 2025.”
“Long-term trends suggest a decline in regular weekly church attendance; however, there was a rise in church attendance across the UK this Christmas, and I enjoyed visits to various churches in West Dunbartonshire, not least the Hope Community church in Clydebank and Dalmuir Barclay church. Christmas and Easter are often the two occasions when people consider attending church, so what can the Church do to attract new worshippers as we approach Easter?”
“Alexandria is one of many post-industrial communities within my constituency, and the Bank of Scotland recently announced the closure of the town’s last remaining bank, but as a result the new Alexandria banking hub opened in my constituency in November 2025, which is a very welcome addition to the high street. Does the Minister agree that that ensures crucial access to cash and face-to face-banking services for businesses and residents, especially the elderly and vulnerable, in Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire, and adds to our high street work with the Pride in Place scheme?”
“I welcome the focus of the national cancer plan on diagnosing cancer faster. That is needed across all cancers, but particularly for leukaemia. Research by Leukaemia UK has found that one in four patients face an avoidable delay in their diagnosis, and that 37% of patients are diagnosed in an emergency setting. How will the implementation of the plan address delays in leukaemia diagnosis, and what steps will the Department take to reduce the proportion of patients who are diagnosed through an emergency route?”
“Q9. It is a source of great pride to Scottish Labour MPs that, as Chancellor, Gordon Brown lifted more children out of poverty than any other Chancellor before him. It is also a source of great pride that— [ Interruption. ]”
“It is also a source of great pride that the torch has now been passed to our Government. By removing the two-child benefit cap, we will lift more children out of poverty in a single Parliament than ever before—2,260 children in West Dunbartonshire and 95,000 children in Scotland. Does the Prime Minister agree that this demonstrates true Labour values in action across Scotland and the UK?”
“I fully support it and look forward to seeing it deliver for West Dunbartonshire and the United Kingdom as a whole, but I also hope that this closer relationship can help bring resolution to the deeply troubling case of my constituent Jagtar Singh Johal and deliver the outcome that he and his family deserve.”
“I urge the Government to continue raising this matter consistently and carefully with the Indian authorities, and to ensure that Jagtar and his family know that he remains a priority to us. On behalf of West Dunbartonshire, I warmly welcome this comprehensive economic and trade agreement. It is a deal that will deliver real economic benefit by supporting jobs, driving investment and strengthening our whisky industry. It means opportunity for workers, business, tourism and future generations. It is a major milestone in our relationship with India—one that is future-focused and built on renewed trust. It is testament to this Government’s promise to deliver, and it positions our United Kingdom to grow and compete in a rapidly changing world. The deal invests in our future and will have a real, meaningful impact in my constituency.”
“I hope that his case can be resolved and his release advanced following this closer and friendlier relationship with India. I advise the House that today is Jagtar’s birthday. He will be 39 today; this will be his ninth birthday detained in an Indian prison. His family in West Dunbartonshire are deeply concerned about his wellbeing. They have shown extraordinary resilience and dignity over many years, and they continue to hope for progress. This agreement marks a new phase in our UK-India relationship. It establishes regular channels of engagement and strengthens trust between our two Governments. I truly hope that this renewed partnership can support continued constructive discussions about Jagtar’s case, with the aim of securing his release and return to his family in Dumbarton.”
“In 2022, the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention concluded that his imprisonment was arbitrary and called for his immediate release. Last year, he was acquitted of all charges with respect to the only case against him that has proceeded to trial. Despite this, he continues to be detained on eight other cases—all similar charges with the same witnesses and the same discredited evidence. We must do more as a Government than simply raise his case with Indian counterparts. It is often remarked that we must respect the Indian judicial system. However, any legal system that remands an individual—a UK citizen—for over eight years is not worth our respect. Worryingly, he has recently been transferred to Tihar jail in New Delhi, which is infamous for its overcrowding and violence.”
“Increased bilateral trade, increased wages and GDP growth are set to grow the Scottish economy by £190 million a year, and the Scotch Whisky Association has described the tariff cuts as “transformational”, with the potential to increase exports by around £1 billion over the next five years. This deal is a clear statement of intent that the UK is open to trade, serious about growth and prepared to engage constructively with the world. However, these deeper relationships bring deeper responsibilities. I am encouraged by the growth in relations between India and Britain, which is why I hope that we can open up meaningful dialogue about diplomatic issues. As most of the House will be aware, my West Dunbartonshire constituent Jagtar Singh Johal has been arbitrarily detained in India since 2017. It has been over eight years now—3,020 days.”
“This deal gives the industry the added confidence to invest and, in doing so, gives the workforce added confidence and security in their future. Scotch whisky distilleries are among the most visited tourist attractions in Scotland, drawing domestic and international visitors who support our hospitality sector. Long-term export growth will, of course, strengthen this. Scotch whisky has faced sky-high import tariffs for decades—as high as 150%—and under this new agreement, those costly tariffs will be cut in half and further reduced to 40% within 10 years. Furthermore, the deal is expected to increase spirit exports to India by 180%. This is a massive win for Scotland, for the whisky industry and for West Dunbartonshire.”
“It will result in much-needed investment for West Dunbartonshire and its residents. The Scotch whisky industry supports thousands of jobs in my constituency, and this trade deal will hopefully result in many more. These businesses provide skilled, well-paid jobs and anchor our local economy. It is a vital industry to my constituency for workers, local economies and tourism, and it is one that we are very proud of. My constituency is home to Chivas Brothers, the Auchentoshan distillery, the Loch Lomond Group and a number of smaller distilleries. The Chivas Kilmalid bottling site in Dumbarton employs more than 1,100 people on permanent contracts alone, and we are proud to be home to its state-of-the-art bottling site. Its recent multimillion-pound investment programme continues at pace.”
“I welcome the UK-India free trade agreement. It is truly historic and a groundbreaking deal for the UK, for Scotland and for my West Dunbartonshire constituency. As the Minister said, India is the fastest-growing country in the G20 and it is set to become the third-largest economy in the world by 2028. For this reason, it is crucial to secure a strong and mutual relationship with India. In the current geopolitical climate of uncertainty and instability, these relationships are more important than ever. This Government have delivered a favourable deal that brings hope and investment for the future. Through this deal, we are making significant progress towards achieving our growth mission. For West Dunbartonshire, the impact of the new trade deal will be immediate and tangible.”
“I congratulate the Minister on this excellent and ambitious plan. If we are to achieve its targets, improvements need to be made on delivering earlier and better diagnosis, particularly for cancers with extremely low survival rates, such as acute myeloid leukaemia, which has a five-year survival rate of just 22%. In my West Dunbartonshire constituency, 46 people have lost their lives to leukaemia in the past five years. I have lived with leukaemia over the past 18 years. Can the Minister confirm that, as part of this plan, improvements will be made in the survival rate for acute myeloid leukaemia?”
“T8. The rotten culture of secrecy and cover-up at the heart of the SNP Government is laid bare by the Glasgow Queen Elizabeth university hospital scandal. Grieving families were lied to and dismissed, and whistleblowers bullied and threatened. Will the Public Office (Accountability) Bill protect Scottish families from Government dishonesty and corruption?”
“Not only that, but the decision will also ease the strain on our schools, our local charities and the NHS, and will therefore benefit all in society. The solution to fixing the welfare system cannot be found in punishing those most vulnerable in society. Social security should provide stability and dignity for everyone, especially children. The Bill is essential to helping alleviate some of the burdens and daily struggles that families in West Dunbartonshire face, and it will lift 450,000 children nationally out of poverty by 2030. I was elected on a manifesto commitment to improve the life chances of every child, and supporting the Bill is consistent with that commitment. Labour has always stood for communities like West Dunbartonshire. Children are not a burden and poverty is not inevitable.”
“The Budget delivered record additional funding for Scotland, which will create opportunities to improve outcomes for families and children in places like West Dunbartonshire. However, it is disappointing that the SNP has too often failed to match increased resources with effective delivery when it comes to tackling child poverty in Scotland. Education is the quickest route out of poverty, but in my constituency and across Scotland, the educational attainment gap continues to widen. Meanwhile, further education colleges are being starved of funding, further undermining the life chances of young people in West Dunbartonshire. Removing the two-child limit is the right thing to do. It will give children a better start in life, regardless of how many siblings they have. This will increase their life chances.”