Cost of Living Scotland 2023-11-14
2023-11-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Discusses the impact of rising costs on households and businesses in Scotland, referencing UK-wide support measures.
Whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the impact of increases in the cost of living on the Scottish economy. I am concerned about the impact of these rises on households and businesses across Scotland. The government has announced various packages to mitigate these impacts, such as cost of living payments and the energy price guarantee.
We have announced UK-wide support for households, including cost of living payments, the energy price guarantee and the energy bills support scheme. Taken together, support for households is worth £94 billion and is among the largest packages in Europe.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about discussions with the Secretary of State for Scotland was not addressed.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Reports that Scottish wages have risen by only 1.5% since 2015, significantly lower than the 5% increase in England, highlighting the struggle for workers during a cost of living crisis.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies recently reported that wages in Scotland have risen by 1.5% since 2015, compared with 5% in England. In the face of a cost of living crisis brought about by the Conservative party's disastrous mini-Budget, wages simply are not keeping up with the cost of living. What can the Minister commit the Government to doing next to help make work pay? Will she, for example, support Labour's new deal for working people?
I was pleased to see this morning's figures, which show that wages are going ahead of inflation. This is very good news and I hope it spreads to Scotland.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about addressing wage stagnation and considering Labour's proposals was not addressed.
Changing Subject To Positive Wage Figures
Response accuracy