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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 10 August 2025
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Displaying 1231 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Low Income and Debt Inquiry

Meeting date: 26 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

I want to follow up on some issues that were raised by my colleague Miles Briggs. First, you have said that you will consult on changes to the law of diligence. What will be the likely timescale of that consultation, and what issues it is likely to cover?

Following on from the last question, I know that you said that there is a lack of evidence on arrestments, but I would like to know more about earnings arrestments. Will an evidence-gathering session go hand in hand with that consultation, to make sure that we find the best outcomes?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Low Income and Debt Inquiry

Meeting date: 26 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

Thank you. I have no more questions, convener.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Low Income and Debt Inquiry

Meeting date: 26 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

Good morning. How should statutory debt processes in Scotland be designed to improve outcomes specifically for people on low incomes? The Child Poverty Action Group has stated that debt processes should support the Scottish Government’s national mission on child poverty. How do we make that a reality and achieve the correct balance? For example, would it be an option to have different processes in place for those on low incomes or those on benefits?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 26 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

I thank the witnesses for their attendance this morning. As has been said, many people have seen their awards increase as a result of the transfer to ADP, but we are obviously concerned about those who have lost out or will lose out. Can you expand on the different options that have been presented for transitional protection and on what the challenges might be in providing for such schemes?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Low Income and Debt Inquiry

Meeting date: 26 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

Obviously, mental health issues can be exacerbated by debt, but they can also be brought on by debt. It is a really tricky system and it seems to be exacerbating mental health issues more and more. Figuring out how to tackle that is the issue.

My last question on this theme is whether more retrospective protection should be given to individuals who were provided a loan when the company should reasonably have known, or did not make the effort to confirm, that there was no realistic chance that the individual would be in a position to repay the loan. Some private lenders that have cropped up recently are providing loans and doing very few background checks to make sure that the person’s income is enough to cover it. Should there be more retrospective protection?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill

Meeting date: 24 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

Good morning, minister. I am looking for clarification on where we are with the discussions that either you or your officials have had with your UK Government counterparts to resolve the concerns that we have highlighted in relation to the LCM. How far along are we? Has there been any progress?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Low Income and Debt Inquiry

Meeting date: 19 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

Good morning. I thank the witnesses for their contributions so far. On the theme of rent arrears, the importance of early intervention has been highlighted throughout the inquiry. We have already discussed that this morning. How effective have the pre-action requirements that are in place to protect social and private tenants been in avoiding eviction action whenever possible?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Low Income and Debt Inquiry

Meeting date: 19 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

In the evidence that you provided, you say that the average cost of an eviction of a family is £24,000 and that

“the total cost of social sector evictions in Scotland for the year 2019-20 was £27.8m.â€

Given the financial cost to local authorities and the emotional stress that an eviction can cause a person or a family, eviction does not seem the best way to deal with rent arrears, especially given that somebody will go back into homeless accommodation and will then have to get rehoused—it is a horrible cycle.

What other options do councils have to deal with rent arrears? You have touched on this, but could any further improvements be made to the processes and procedures around the collection of rent arrears in general?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Energy Price Rises

Meeting date: 17 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

Thank you for your helpful response.

We touched on the fact that prepayment customers pay more, which is unfair, and so run the risk of losing their energy supply completely for periods of time. No one should have to experience that. Potentially, there will be elderly people, pregnant women and young children in homes that have no heating at all. More action is needed to protect such people. There have been calls for a social tariff, but the UK Government seems to have dismissed the idea. Do you have thoughts on what more can be done to protect people?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Energy Price Rises

Meeting date: 17 May 2022

Natalie Don-Innes

Absolutely. I will pass back to the convener.