Oral Answers to Questions

Amy Callaghan Excerpts

Tuesday 9th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Marion Fellows (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)]

What recent discussions he has had with his Scottish Government counterpart on the effect of UK fiscal policy on living standards in Scotland.

[Amy Callaghan (East Dunbartonshire) (SNP)]

What recent discussions he has had with his Scottish Government counterpart on the effect of UK fiscal policy on living standards in Scotland.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Steve Barclay)]

I have frequent discussions with the Scottish Government Finance Secretary and spoke to her ahead of the Budget last week.

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Barclay]

First, as was set out in analysis published with the Budget, the measures that the Government have taken have supported the poorest working households the most. Secondly, the hon. Lady also failed to mention the additional capacity funding for her community that was announced at the Budget. Thirdly, the Scottish Government requested specific powers in respect of benefits and tax, and, of course, they have the option to use those powers that they said that they wanted.

[Amy Callaghan [V]]

As the Minister will be aware, the £20 uplift to universal credit has been a lifeline during the pandemic. Many families in my constituency are devastated that the uplift is set to end in September. With the Scottish Government committed to tackling child poverty, including through the game-changer Scottish child payment, the UK Government-imposed cliff edge could pose a significant setback. Does the Minister agree that plunging children and families into poverty, whether it is now or in September, is a callous act, and will he commit to a permanent uplift to universal credit?

[Steve Barclay]

We have managed to get a hat trick, because the hon. Lady also received capacity funding for her own area at the Budget but chose not to mention that funding, which will help the families she referred to. It is also slightly odd for her to talk about plunging into something when the Chancellor has announced an extension. Coupled with that, and the UK-wide measures that were set out at the Budget—including measures such as freezing fuel duty, which will help many families in her own constituency—there was an additional £1.2 billion of funding for the Scottish Government and the powers to which I referred in my previous answer. Therefore, many families have been helped, including 480,000 existing claimants in Scotland as well as new claimants, and the families helped through the £500 one- off payment that was announced at the Budget. There was a strong package of support for Scotland, none of which she chose to mention in her question.