MSPs will now vote on the motion and amendments from the Scottish government debate on the rollout of Universal Credit.

Ms Freeman says the list of organisations saying loud and clear that Universal Credit should be paused until the problem fixed, is ignored in the Tory amendment.

The minister says as Holyrood votes to halt the rollout of Universal Credit will the Scottish Conservatives put the people first.

Ms Freeman is told off for a second time for using the word "you" repeatedly.

She concludes calling for the halt of the rollout of Universal Credit.

Ms Freeman says if Mr Balfour is genuinely concerned about moving disabled people into work then he will oppose cuts to employment support and mobility vehicles.

The social security minister says she is certain Mr Briggs is a very nice man but he failed to address the point that there are systemic flaws in the current system.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh asks the minister to stop referring to members as "you" and to use their titles.

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman says she does support a genuine simplified system that is genuinely accessible and helps people into work.

Ms Freeman says the UK government's welfare system aims to save money on the backs of those who can least afford it.

She says she will support the Labour, Green and Lib Dem amendments.

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman says the debate has heard from real evidence of constituents struggling with this system.

Ms Freeman says the DWP have admitted that one in four new claimants wait longer than six weeks.

"Social security should be there to help and support when needed," she says, adding that it should never penalise.

The social security minister says she is happy to support the Labour and Lib Dem amendments.

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Tory MSP Maurice Golden says now claimants will get a payment on the same day in the case of an emergency.

Mr Golden says he was pleased to hear Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke say he would not rush UC.

Benefit claimants struggling to pay their bills will be able to get cash advances upfront, Mr Gauke has said.

He said he recognised concerns that people moving on to Universal Credit had to wait six weeks to be paid.

The UK minister told the Conservative conference those needing a cash advance would get one within five days - or on the same day in emergency cases.

But he said he was committed to the system and its rollout would go ahead.

SNP MSP Maree Todd asks if the member believes terminally ill people are better off working.

Mr Golden says the member does herself a disservice in bringing that up.

The Tory MSP says his party have supported the changes to make the system better.

He says: "It is no longer sufficient just to offer criticisms and that this parliament must offer solutions."

Mr Golden says it is only right to recognise that the UK government are looking for solutions.

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Tory MSP Maurice Golden says: "We are all in agreement over the underlying aim of Universal Credit to get people of benefits into work and out of poverty."

Mr Golden says the strength of feeling is not strong across the chamber saying other parties are not present in great numbers.

Labour MSP Mark Griffin says many colleagues are in their offices dealing with concerns from constituents over UC.

Mr Golden says if they care about the issue they should be in the chamber

UC is a simpler system that encourages work and supports aspiration, he says.

Mr Griffin says there was an assurance given originally that no-one would be given a reduction in benefits because of this system.

The Labour MSP says he agrees with some of what Mr Tomkins says but the sincerity of work always pays would be more convincing if in-work-benefits were not being cut.

"Universal Credit must be halted and redesigned," he says.

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Labour MSP Mark Griffin says Universal Credit is policy designed with lofty ambitions with no basis in or knowledge of the people living with social security, surviving week to week.

Mr Griffin says CAS have reported a 15% increase in rent arrears due to UC.

He says there has been a big increase in people seeking advice on foodbanks.

The Labour MSP says the Tory government's plan to continue rolling out UC is cruel and indefensible.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says her party will support the government motion and Labour and Lib Dem amendments.

Ms Johnstone calls on the Tories to say in closing how UC is going to help poverty.

The Green MSP says those who are terminally ill or even more vulnerable have to wait five weeks which is just "not good enough".

She says "we really have to halt the rollout of this system."

Ms Johnstone says payment must arrive at the proper time in order for the system to work, "we can and we must do better."

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says when social policy hurts those we seek to help we should pause and reflect.

Mr Cole-Hamilton says: "We are harming people and its time to stop."

He welcomes the government motion, the Labour and Green amendments.

The Lib Dem MSP says the Tories have been shown unequal to the task of rectifying the problems with the rollout of UC.

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson says by assuming the worst in people by default UC causes harm and actually misses its aim.

Mr Macpherson says although UC might seem like a good idea, the way it is being rolled out is causing real problems.

The SNP MSP says rent arrears created because of UC has resulted in landlords advertising properties as "no UC".

He says: "Universal Credit is causing real and significant distress."

Labour MSP Iain Gray says the idea of UC seems to have been around for a longtime and its development has been painfully slow.

Mr Gray says you would think the Tory government would have got it right and his constituency of East Lothian was one of the first in Scotland to roll it out.

The Labour MSP says for him the rollout has not seemed "painfully slow" but just painful.

He says the net affect of the change to UC is a reduction in living standards for the vast majority of those accessing the system.

Mr Gray says the worst wait reported for UC in East Lothian was six months.

A five-week wait for Universal Credit has been a major factor in pushing some claimants into rent arrears, the government's own research has found.

Universal Credit merges six existing benefits into one and is being introduced gradually across the UK.

Citizens Advice has criticised the initial wait for payments, calling for a suspension in the roll-out.

But the government said monthly payments reflected the way many working people were paid.

Debate

Universal Credit combines existing benefits such as tax credits, housing benefit, income support, Jobseeker's Allowance, and employment and support allowance. By 2022, more than seven million households will receive Universal Credit - at least half of which will be in work.

A major rollout of the scheme begins soon, following a series of delays. The system was originally scheduled to be fully in place this year.

• Universal Credit may 'take decades to perfect'
• Charity calls for Universal Credit action

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Maree Todd says if UC continues foodbanks won't be able to catch everyone that falls, according to the Trussell Trust.

Ms Todd says the Tories are just ignoring charity after charity calling for the halt to the rollout of UC.

She says this week the UK government's own backbenchers demanded the pause of the national rollout.

Ms Todd says: "What will it take for the UK government to finally notice the devastating impact that Universal Credit is having on people?"

She says it is "scandalous".

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.

He challenged Lord Freud over his claim that many UC claimants who were in rent arrears after being transferred from old-style benefits had brought their arrears with them.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says the way Universal Credit is being rolled out is pushing people into poverty.

Ms McNeill says she will vote with Scottish Labour interim leader Alex Rowley and the other parties in the chamber other than the Tories.

The Labour MSP says every member other than the Tories have called for the halt of this system so that it can be fixed.

She says lets see whether the five day payment resolves any of the issues because it is the only measure that has been brought forward.

Ms McNeill says, while everyone is calling for a halt, the UK government are accelerating Universal Credit.

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie asks what you do if you do not come from a family who can bail you out, saying your life descends into chaos.

Ms McKelvie says the figures emerging show increases in rent arrears, crisis loans and the use of foodbanks.

The SNP MSP says she has a constituent who is unable to leave his home and is reliant on various drugs. She says he cannot even leave his wheelchair and has been told to go and stack on supermarket shelves.

She says local authorities are picking up the pieces of people's lives using money which has been cut by Westminster.