Summary

  • The Social Security Committeetakes evidence on the two child limit in tax credits and universal credit

  • The first minister and opposition party leaders express condolences to the family and friends of Eilidh MacLeod, who was killed in the Manchester bomb attack

  • SNP MSP James Dornan leads this afternoon's member's debate on the 50th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions

  • MSPs debate (Contract) Third Party Rights

  1. We will now mark a minute's silence out of respect for the victims of the Manchester attackpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

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  2. Manchester attack: Eilidh MacLeod's family confirm deathpublished at 10:58 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Eilidh MacLeodImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Eilidh MacLeod

    The family of a 14-year-old girl from Scotland have confirmed that she was one of the 22 people killed in Monday's suicide bomb attack at the Manchester Arena.

    In a statement, the parents of Eilidh MacLeod said: "Words cannot express how we feel at losing our darling Eilidh."

    Eilidh was one of two teenagers from Barra who were reported missing in the aftermath of the attack.

    Her friend Laura MacIntyre, 15, is in hospital with serious injuries.

    The teenagers, pupils at Castlebay Community School, were among thousands of people who had attended a show by US singer Ariana Grande.

    Read more here.

  3. Manchester attack: National minute's silence to be heldpublished at 10:58 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Members of the public have been laying floral tributes and messages in St Ann's SquareImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Members of the public have been laying floral tributes and messages in St Ann's Square

    A national minute's silence will be held at 11:00 BST to remember the victims of the Manchester attack.

    Twenty-two people were killed and 64 injured after suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a homemade device at Manchester Arena on Monday.

    Manchester's council invited people "to pay your respects to those we lost."

    Greater Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham will be among those observing the silence in St Ann's Square, which has become the focal point for tributes.

    Nineteen of the victims have been named so far and include children and teenagers.

    VictimsImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Clockwise, from top left: Georgina Callander, Saffie Roussos, Olivia Campbell, Martyn Hett, Michelle Kiss, Sorrell Leczkowski, Alison Howe, Lisa Lees, Jane Tweddle-Taylor, Nell Jones, Marcin Klis, Angelika Klis, Kelly Brewster and John Atkinson

    Scottish teenager Eilidh MacLeod died in the attack. Her friend Laura MacIntyre suffered serious injuries.

  4. Background: Benefit changes 'could push 200,000 children into poverty'published at 10:55 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    The change will leave hundreds of thousands of families worse off, say campaignersImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    The change will leave hundreds of thousands of families worse off, say campaigners

    Changes to benefit rules coming into force this week could push 200,000 more children into poverty,campaigners said in April.

    Payments for some benefits are now limited to the first two children in a family.

    The Child Poverty Action Group and Institute for Public Policy Research say some families will be almost £3,000 a year worse off under the new rules.

    Ministers say they are determined to tackle the root causes of disadvantage and make work pay.

    Read more here.

  5. The two child child tax policy will drive 200,000 more children into poverty says CPAGpublished at 10:55 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland director John Dickie says the two child child tax policy will drive 200,000 more children into poverty.

  6. If you take money out of the system, more people will be in poverty says Mr Ghelanipublished at 10:54 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Policy in Practice director Deven Ghelani

    Policy in Practice director Deven Ghelani says if you take money out of the system, more people will be in poverty.

    Mr Ghelani says a security system that gets money to the right people and the right time is important.

  7. Postpublished at 10:53 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

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  8. 'Mismatch and disconnect' of policy is concerningpublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG) director John Dickie

    Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG) director John Dickie says the "mismatch and disconnect" is concerning between the practicality of the two-child limit and how it will play out.

    Mr Dickie says that it is intended to make the system fairer for those who work but families that do work will be greatly affected.

  9. The concept of simplifying the benefits system hopefully still has cross party support says Mr Ghelanipublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Policy in Practice director Deven Ghelani says the concept of simplifying the benefits system hopefully still has cross party support.

    Mr Ghelani says part of his role is to take the practical voices that are heard on the front line and feed them back into the process.

  10. Postpublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

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  11. CPAG says it now looks like a million more children in poverty by 2020published at 10:45 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG)Image source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG)

    Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG) director John Dickie says the original model for UC was that it would decrease child poverty.

    Mr Dickie says it now looks like a million more children in poverty by 2020, so clearly a massive difference and that is not just about the two child limit but all the welfare changes.

  12. Background: Universal credit may 'take decades to perfect'published at 10:42 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    JobccentreplusImage source, PA

    In February we reported the architect of the troubled universal credit (UC) system says it could take "decades" to get it working at its most effective level.

    Lord Freud defended the system to MPs holding an urgent session over fresh concerns many claimants were being pushed into rent arrears and eviction.

    UC collapses all benefits into one and is being rolled out in Britain.

    Work and Pensions Committee chairman Frank Field said some claimants were having their lives wrecked by UC.

    Read more here.

  13. Background: CPAG in Scotlandpublished at 10:42 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    CPAGImage source, CPAG
    Image caption,

    CPAG

    From the CPAG website, external

    "CPAG in Scotland was established in 1999 and works to raise awareness of the devastating impact poverty has on children in Scotland, maximise families’ incomes by helping to ensure those eligible for benefits and tax credits receive their full entitlements and campaign for positive policy changes to end that poverty.

    "We do this through providing advice, external, information, external and training, external on benefits and tax credits to organisations in Scotland; as well promoting solutions and working to bring about real improvements in the policies that impact on the lives of low income families through our campaign and policy work, external."

    Read the CPAG submission to the committee here., external

  14. We need to make sure other benefits for the third child are not affected says John Dickiepublished at 10:42 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG) director John Dickie

    Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG) director John Dickie says there is a job to check that the third child, in a family, is not exempt from passport of benefits because that child will not get tax credits.

    Mr Dickie says there is good work going on in Scotland in removing the need for application and using data that they already have.

    He says we need to make sure benefits like free school meals are not affected.

  15. Background: Policy in Practicepublished at 10:39 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Policy in PracticeImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Policy in Practice

    From the Policy in Practice website, external:

    "Policy in Practice believes the welfare system can work more effectively. It can help people towards greater independence if we make it simple for people and organisations to understand.

    "We simplify the welfare system by showing people how policy affects them.

    "We show local authorities how individual households are affected by all policy changes, now and in the future.

    "We talk to government on a national level to influence policy."

    Read the Policy in Practice submission to the committee here., external

  16. 'A quarter of million children will move below the poverty line'published at 10:38 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Policy in Practice director Deven GhelaniImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Policy in Practice director Deven Ghelani

    Policy in Practice director Deven Ghelani says a quarter of million children will move below the poverty line as a result of the policies.

    Mr Ghelani says 600,000 children above the poverty line will be worst off.

    He says looking at the combined impact of welfare reform is what Policy in Practice do.

  17. Labour MSP asks where the savings from the policy will be spentpublished at 10:35 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    CommitteeImage source, bbc

    Labour MSP Richard Leonard asks if the organisations know where the UK government is going to spend its savings from this policy, asking if they will be used for a tax cut for the rich.

    Tory MSP Adam Tomkins asks: "Is there an election on Richard?"

    Engender executive director Emma Ritch and Jo Ozga from Scottish Women's Aid both agree they wish to see the two child limit on tax credits scrapped completely.

  18. Scottish Women's Aid highlights the cumulative impact of welfare cuts on womenpublished at 10:29 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

    Jo Ozga from Scottish Women's Aid highlights the cumulative impact of welfare cuts on women, including being unable to buy nappies.

    Engender executive director Emma Ritch says successive UN committees have required the UK to undertake a cumulative impact assessment looking at disabled people, BME people and women and children.

    Real people in real communities are being very seriously affected, but the UK government is extending its welfare reforms she says.

  19. Postpublished at 10:26 British Summer Time 25 May 2017

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