Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Make Work Pay Plan

Wednesday 5 March 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Dr Scott Arthur raised concerns about the growing attainment gap in Scottish schools and welcomed improvements in workers' rights.
  • Jim Shannon thanked Dr Scott Arthur for highlighting the importance of opportunities for children.
  • The Minister responded that the Labour Government will ban zero-hours contracts, which the SNP had previously described as a positive destination for school leavers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Scott Arthur Lab Edinburgh South West
Education Employment Scotland
Context

Residents in Edinburgh South West are concerned about the growing gap in attainment between rich and poor students, as highlighted by a recent Audit Scotland report on support for children with additional needs.

Question

What steps is he taking with Cabinet colleagues to implement the policies in the make work pay plan in Scotland? Residents throughout my constituency welcome the improvements in workers’ rights, but parents are greatly concerned about the impact of the growing gap in attainment in Scottish schools between the richest and the poorest. This week I have been inundated with comments from parents who are worried about the recent Audit Scotland report on support for children with additional needs; it is a disgraceful report.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

My hon. Friend is right to raise the concerns of parents who are worried about how their kids will get good jobs. The SNP has said that a zero-hours contract is “a positive destination” for a school leaver, but this Labour Government will ban such exploitative contracts. Labour’s Budget delivered an extra £4.9 billion for Scottish public services, but after 18 years the SNP still does not see Scottish kids as a priority.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or assurances about education being made a priority by the Scottish Government

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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Scotland Children & Families
Context

The DUP MP thanks the Minister for her response to Dr Arthur's question about the growing attainment gap and highlights the importance of providing opportunities for children.

Question

I thank the Minister for her response, but more importantly I thank the hon. Member for Edinburgh South West (Dr Arthur) for setting the scene. He has clearly explained the importance of having children, and the importance of their having opportunities. With those opportunities in mind, has the Minister had a chance to discuss with the equivalent Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly how we can better help our children in Northern Ireland, as she wishes to do in Scotland?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

I have not had that chance, but I would be delighted to do so. Scottish education is, of course, devolved to the SNP Government. SNP Members should think long and hard about the fact that they have claimed that it is their No. 1 priority and yet the attainment gap is growing. Working-class kids’ education and exam results were explicitly downgraded by the serving First Minister.

Not addressed: Did not discuss any plans to collaborate with Northern Ireland regarding educational opportunities for children

How: Discussed Scottish Education Being Devolved To The Snp Government, Criticised The Snp For Failing On Their Priorities

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