Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Living Standards

Wednesday 4 December 2024 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Minister stated that economic growth and a new deal for working people aim to improve living standards in Scotland.
  • The Secretary of State praised community councils for effectively distributing funds from local wind farms to benefit communities.
  • The Secretary of State acknowledged the issue of zero-hours contracts but defended the Government's efforts to address economic challenges inherited from the previous administration.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Economy Scotland
Context

The MP is concerned about the economic situation affecting living standards in his constituency and wider Scotland.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve living standards in Scotland?

Answer from Ian Murray

Our economic growth mission will raise living standards in Scotland. Our new deal for working people will disproportionately benefit Scots. New protections such as guaranteed hours will help shift workers with up to £600 a year. We are also delivering an annual pay rise of £1,400 for hundreds of thousands of full-time workers in Scotland, and we have committed to the triple lock, which means an extra £470 for pensioners next year. Last week, we paid the first instalment to 7,000 former Scottish miners with their full pension.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not specify concrete actions or timelines beyond general initiatives and benefits

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Q2 Elaine Stewart Lab Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Energy Environment
Context

The MP highlights the importance of community benefit funds derived from local wind farms for improving living standards.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that community benefit funds from wind farms contribute to improving living standards for communities? Will he join me in praising the work of the nine community council groups in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock as a model of the fair distribution of funds to support local apprenticeships and improve living standards across the Cumnock and Doon Valley areas?

Answer from Ian Murray

I congratulate not only the nine community councils in my hon. Friend's area on their initiative, but community councils up and down the country that do so much work on our behalf to ensure that the community benefit fund, derived from local wind farms, makes a tangible difference to local people.

Answered
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Q3 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the number of Scots on zero-hours contracts and advocates for Labour's Employment Rights Bill to address this issue.

Question

Some 100,000 Scots are on zero-hours contracts, with no guarantee of secure hours. Labour's Employment Rights Bill will address that. Does the Secretary of State agree that 100,000 Scots being in insecure work is a damning indictment of the state the Tories left our economy in and shows that we need a new direction in Holyrood?

Answer from Ian Murray

Mr Speaker, you will not be surprised to hear that I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. The Government inherited not just a fiscal crisis from the previous Government, but an industrial one too. We need more high-quality jobs in Scotland. Between our industrial strategy, our plan to get Scotland working and the employment rights legislation, we will help to deliver that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not provide specific commitments or timelines for addressing zero-hours contracts

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Q4 Stephen Gethins SNP Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
Scotland
Context

The MP criticizes the Labour Government's decision to cut winter fuel payments, contrasting it with Scottish Government actions.

Question

I join the Secretary of State for Scotland in welcoming the shadow Secretary of State for Scotland to his place. I congratulate him on his appointment. Today, the Scottish Government will continue to protect the most vulnerable in society from the excesses of Westminster cuts. Instead of Tory cuts, it will be Labour cuts to winter fuel payments. Does the Secretary of State agree with the cut to the winter fuel allowance?

Answer from Ian Murray

Mr Speaker, I am sorry for such a short response to the hon. Gentleman, but there are 4.9 billion reasons why that question is rubbish.

Not addressed: The question about cutting winter fuel allowances was entirely avoided by calling it 'rubbish'

How: Deflecting The Question To A Different Topic

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Q5 Stephen Gethins SNP Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
Scotland Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP reiterates his criticism of the Labour Government's stance on winter fuel payments, contrasting it with Scottish Government actions.

Question

I have to say I am not surprised. There is huge confusion in the Labour party about the winter fuel allowance. The Scottish Government are doing something about it; the UK Government are not. The Secretary of State did not even know the number of pensioners who would be affected by the winter fuel cut. Labour is now distancing itself from Labour. Vote Labour to stop Labour—is that the message his party is sending out, or should voters just vote for the party that is actually doing something about it?

Answer from Ian Murray

I think what the hon. Gentleman is tending to forget is that the winter fuel payment in Scotland is devolved. It was the SNP Scottish Government who decided to means-test it as well. If it was not for the £4.9 billion extra delivered by our Labour Chancellor at this Dispatch Box to end austerity, which the Scottish Government will spend today, they would not be able to make any decisions whatsoever.

Not addressed: The question about pensioners affected by cuts was avoided in favour of discussing devolved powers and funding issues

How: Deflecting The Question To A Different Topic

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