Oral Answers to Questions

Ronnie Cowan Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd February 2023 Commons Chamber

[David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP)]

5. What assessment he has made of the impact of increases in the cost of living on people in Scotland.

[Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP)]

12. What assessment he has made of the impact of increases in the cost of living on people in Scotland.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (John Lamont)]

Like many countries around the world, the UK faces the challenge of high inflation, which is why the Prime Minister has made tackling inflation a key immediate priority. As was outlined in the Chancellor’s autumn statement, the Government are committed to supporting the most vulnerable households across the UK with £12 billion-worth of direct support in 2023-24. Alongside that, the energy price guarantee is saving a typical household in Scotland about £900 this winter.

--- Later in debate ---

[John Lamont]

As the Chancellor set out in the autumn statement, we have taken the appropriate steps to help the most vulnerable households in Scotland and across the UK. I have set out already some of the payments being made to support households this winter. The Government continue to explore new ways of tackling poverty and helping to protect the most vulnerable, and we will continue to do so.

[Ronnie Cowan]

Scotland is a net energy exporter, but, as a consequence of being in the UK, people in energy-rich Scotland face electricity costs that are 30% higher than those in the Netherlands and Germany. Does the Secretary of State think it right that Scots face the highest bills in Europe while the UK Government allow energy companies to make billions in profit?

[John Lamont]

As I have set out during this session, the Government are putting in place tax arrangements to ensure that excessive profits made by BP, Shell and others are taxed at 75%. I do not accept the hon. Gentleman’s further analysis about the situation in Scotland; this Government have put in place measures to support households during this difficult winter period and we will continue to assess what other measures we can take to do so.