Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 12:51 pm on 23 January 2025.
Clare Adamson
Scottish National Party
12:51,
23 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting people in Motherwell and Wishaw in accessing social security entitlements. (S6O-04247)
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Scottish National Party
Through our benefit take-up strategy, we are implementing initiatives to support people to access their entitlements. That includes targeted marketing of payments and assistance from local delivery teams to help people apply, with advisers available at co-located venues in Wishaw and Motherwell.
The draft budget for 2025-26 includes more than £12.8 million for free income maximisation support and welfare and debt advice. Our investment supports advice services, which are delivered in many ways, including face to face, by telephone and on-line.
In addition, welfare advice and health partnerships provide financial advice directly in three general practices in the member’s North Lanarkshire Constituency.
Clare Adamson
Scottish National Party
Many vulnerable people find it particularly difficult to navigate the Department for Work and Pensions system, especially given the stigmatising language that we continue to hear from the United Kingdom Government about cutting social security Bills. My Motherwell and Wishaw constituents have experienced errors in debt calculation and issues with the direct payment of their universal credit to third parties, especially energy companies. I would be happy to share examples with the Cabinet secretary.
Will the cabinet secretary press the UK Government on ensuring that the current system of direct payments to third parties, including energy companies, is reviewed to ensure accuracy, fairness and proper safeguarding measures for vulnerable claimants?
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Scottish National Party
I share the member’s concern about some of the language regarding social security that we see being used by the Conservatives, by the UK Labour Government and, indeed, by Scottish Labour in its discussion of “handouts”.
However, unlike the Department for Work and Pensions, we do not have powers to make direct deductions for third-party services. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that we operate with fairness, dignity and respect for all clients, including in our work on debt collection.
The UK Government’s approach, which includes deductions for advance payments and historical overpayments, often leaves people with too little to live on. I will continue to press the UK Government to adopt fairer measures that safeguard people, including the work towards the essentials guarantee. The member raises a very important point about the impact that that can have on our constituents.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
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