Living Standards

The speaker highlighted the cost of living crisis, noting a 900% increase in energy bill arrears and a 64% rate of people skipping meals to pay for energy costs according to a recent survey by Citizens Advice Stirling. He urged the government to take action during the upcoming UK Budget.

Mr Shanks expressed concern about the cost of living crisis, noting that household income growth is down by more than 3% in this Parliament. He highlighted issues such as rising food and energy prices, with inflation on food at 26%. Over a million households are expected to face increased mortgage costs this year, leading to an average increase of £1,800 annually. Shanks also pointed out that disabled individuals experience higher living costs, with disability-related expenses representing 63% of a disabled person's income.

She briefly intervened to mention the issue of immigration. My hon. Friend highlighted the importance of the Government clearly explaining to the public what support has been given in different ways, particularly regarding utilities and various aspects across the economy.

Ms Elphicke discussed the impact of major events such as the financial crisis, pandemic, and Russian invasion on living standards. She highlighted historical comparisons to post-war economic challenges and called for a more cohesive approach to managing household costs by centralising oversight across various departments. She also raised concerns about the affordability of private sector rents and the invisibility of government support measures. Acknowledged the Minister's response but expressed concern that timeframes for investment and spending settlements are not within Treasury control, urging him to consider the impact on households.

Ms Gibson highlighted the severe cost of living crisis impacting constituents, citing a significant decline in living standards since records began. She criticised the UK Government for blaming external factors while downplaying the negative impact of Brexit on productivity and living standards. She reported that 2.65 million people are unable to afford healthy amounts of food, with young adults three and a half times more likely to experience financial vulnerability compared to older age groups. Additionally, she noted rising essential household expenses, particularly in mortgage rates, which have contributed to energy debt for millions and disconnected households from their utilities. Patricia Gibson questioned the hon. Member's remarks about tax, citing independent evidence from the OBR that shows a majority of people in Scotland pay less tax than they would if they lived in England.