Draft Social Security (Contributions) (Rates, Limits and Thresholds Amendments and National Insurance Funds Payments) Regulations 2022 Draft Tax Credits, Child Benefits and Guardians Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2022

David Linden Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd February 2022 General Committees

[David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Gary.

I will not detain the Committee for too long given that we are expecting a vote in the House but I want to put on the record that the proposed uplift, particularly that dealt with the second SI, does not reflect the true cost of living that many of our constituents are experiencing now.

When we debated the matter a couple of weeks ago, it was widely accepted by Members across the House that basing the uplifts on September figures will have to be reconsidered by the Government because the change is not working for our constituents. Far too many households in my constituency of Glasgow East and right across Scotland have been left behind and will not benefit from a paltry 3.1% increase from a Government who know that we are heading for a 7% inflation rate by April.

We have obviously had discussions about national insurance and it would be remiss of me not to put on record that the United Kingdom Government’s decision to go ahead with a regressive hike in national insurance will undoubtedly impact on the youngest and lowest earners in society. The Government often talk about supporting people in society, and the Minister uttered warm words about the social security net, but for far too many people who I represent that security net is getting weaker and there are more holes in it than ever before. The SIs before the Committee will not solve that.