Welfare Reform Bill

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 22 December 2011.

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Photo of Liam McArthur Liam McArthur Liberal Democrat

I agree with Jamie Hepburn about the value of this morning’s debate. I probably owe Kevin Stewart a debt of gratitude, as I should have declared an interest at the outset. I am a board member of the Hearts and Balls Charitable Trust, which works with people who have suffered severe injury as a result of sporting accident.

I concur with Nicola Sturgeon’s reference to the powerful personal stories that resonate around this debate. My brother was left quadriplegic as a result of a rugby accident in the mid-1990s. I know from my discussions with him that the proposals raise a great deal of concern because of the uncertainty and so on. Nevertheless, that is not an argument for ducking an issue that, as a number of members have mentioned, has been around for a while and has been promoted by successive UK Administrations and now, unfortunately, has to be addressed in times that are less propitious than they were 10 or so years ago.

The debate has involved passionate speeches from members across the chamber, inspired by personal experience and the evidence that has been received by the various committees that took evidence. I take exception to Helen Eadie’s suggestion that the issue is geographically confined. There is no doubt that the issue is raising concern and debate across the country, including in my constituency.