MSPs pass Domestic Abuse Bill

Summary

The Public Petitions Committee takes evidence on a petition titled 'make more money available to mitigate welfare cuts'
MSPs quiz Nicola Sturgeon in first minister's questions.
SNP MSP Richard Lochhead marks World Cancer Day with a debate
MSPs debate the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill at Stage 3

Live Reporting

Louise Wilson and Craig Hutchison

Elsewhere in Holyrood .....Russell on Brexit .....again!published at 10:21 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
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'Very, very disappointing response' from the Scottish government says petitionerpublished at 10:20 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Image source, bbc
John McArdle says giving disabled people assistance to negotiate the social security system is perhaps the most helpful thing of all.
SNP MSP Angus Macdonald asks waht response the petitioner what response she got from the Scottish government.
Dr Glynn says it was not very positive and was a "very, very disappointing response".
She says she is very supportive of a citizen's income.
Background: Black Trianglepublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Image source, Getty Images
Black Triangle, external is an activist group for disabled people.
Specifically, the group is campaigning against work capability assessments and expresses concerns about individuals being wrongly classed as "fit for work".
It was set it in memory of Scottish writer Paul Reekie, who reportedly committed suicide in 2010 after a decision was made to half his welfare benefits.
Black Triangle's mission statement is: "To Defend, Protect and Fight for Humanity with Disability."
PIP reassessment is 'cold comfort' to individualspublished at 10:16 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Image caption,
John McArdle of Black Triange
John McArdle from Black Triangle says the recent announcement that PIP cases are to be reassessed is "cold comfort" to many.
The DWP announced it would reopen all PIP claims due to concerns expressed about individuals with mental health issues earlier this week.
Mr McArdle worries that people will be moved to Universal Credit and therefore lose the severe disability premium.
He refers to the UN report on the treatment of disabled people, which found the UK government breached the rights of disabled people, calling it a "human catastrophe".
It is incumbent on the Scottish government to step in and take action to alleviate suffering, he argues.
Ideally the £2bn a year should be mitigated says petitionerpublished at 10:11 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Labour MSP Johann Lamont
Labour MSP and committee convener Johann Lamont asks how much more money should be made available in the budget.
Dr Sarah Glynn says ideally the £2bn a year should be mitigated, but she accepts that is a lot of money.
She raises the issue of the benefit cap and says she backs the call for £5 to be added to child tax credit, which is the Give Me Five capmaign.
'What more important role does parliament have than protecting the most vulnerable citizens?'published at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Image source, Getty Images
Dr Glynn asks: "What more important role does parliament have than protecting the most vulnerable citizens?"
For those who believe devolution is not enough, she says, it is important to use the tools available now.
The Scottish government seems to be "cautious and pragmatic", but more must be done, Dr Glynn concludes.
The petition calls for more money to be put into welfarepublished at 10:09 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Dr Sarah Glynn
Dr Sarah Glynn says by 2020-21 some £2bn a year will be lost to people due to welfare cuts.
There is vast amount of stress due to a "criminal level of negligence" in the workings of the DWP, says Dr Glynn.
She says the petition is calling for an acknowledgement of the need to put more money into the social security system.
The Scottish Unemployed Workers' Network representative calls for more help for discretionary housing payments, child tax credits and other mitigation to the cuts.
Background: Scottish Unemployed Workers’ Networkpublished at 10:07 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
The Scottish Unemployed Workers’ Network, founded in 2011, aims to campaign for the rights of unemployed people in the face of welfare cuts.
It also hopes to tackle the stigma around being unemployed.
First set up in Dundee, the Network is also active in Paisley, Govan and Arbroath.
Image source, Scottish Unemployed Workers’ Network
Benefits recipients excluded from society, Scottish Unemployed Workers' Network sayspublished at 10:06 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Image caption,
Dr Sarah Glynn of the Scottish Unemployed Workers' Network
Dr Sarah Glynn says welfare reform has been devastating, leaving families "in fear and destitution".
Food banks should have "died out" with the establishment of the welfare state, she argues.
We are seeing a return to the "Victorian belief" that individuals are to blame for poverty, she adds.
Dr Glynn argues people on benefits are being excluded from participating in society.
First up is discussion on mitigating welfare cutspublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
John McArdle and Dr Sarah Glynn
The committee will hear about the petition on making more money available to mitigate welfare cuts, external from:
- Dr Sarah Glynn of the Scottish Unemployed Workers' Network, external
- John McArdle from Black Triangle, external
Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Livepublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 29 January 2018
First up is the Public Petitions Committee taking evidence on two petitions: make more money available to mitigate welfare cuts; and national strategic framework for countryside ranger services.
General questions kicks off at 11:40, after which we will bring you extensive coverage of First Minister's Questions at noon.
After that, SNP MSP Richard Lochhead leads a debate on World Cancer Day 2018.
The day ends with the final stage debate on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill.
Image source, Laura Dodsworth