Image source, Getty Images

Turning to housing assistance, Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman says her amendments will allow councils to offer short-term assistance.

Other amendments are in response to DWP dropping its policy to not provide assistance to 18 to 21 year olds, she states.

Ms Freeman says another amendment will ensure the Bill remains workable if and when a future UK government drops the bedroom tax.

The first of these are unanimously agreed, as is Pauline McNeill's amendment debated early on reporting on the right of appeal.

Mr Griffin asks what better ways are there to spend this money than lifting children out of poverty.

Child benefit is not universal he adds, but even if it was he points to the Scottish government's support of universalism elsewhere (such as university tuition and prescriptions).

The child benefit supplement amendment is defeated by 97 to 26.

Others on adjusting for inflation are agreed unanimously.

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Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman highlights the forthcoming introduction of the income supplement for low income families.

Ms Freeman says the IPPR has concluded that increasing child benefit is not the most effective way of reducing child poverty.

It is a false premise to put before this chamber that passing this amendment will instantly see a £5 top-up to child tax credits, she says.

The minister says Mr Griffin's amendment would ride roughshod over this parliament's budgetary process.

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Increasing key benefits could help to reduce child poverty in Scotland, a major report said in February.

Scotland's Poverty and Inequality Commission, external made 40 recommendations including topping up the child element of Universal Credit.

It added that the ambitious target of cutting child poverty by 100,000 would incur "substantial costs".

Equalities Secretary Angela Constance welcomed the report saying a "delivery plan" would be presented soon.

Read more here.

Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says that while his party has a lot of sympathy for these amendments it will not be supporting them.

He argues money should be concentrated on those most in need, suggesting the amendments would see more affluent families receive the benefit.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says this parliament has committed to closing the attainment gap but this cannot be done if poverty is not dealt with at its core.

Child benefits have been decreasing in value since 2010 and this amendment would resolve this, she argues.

Image source, CPAG

Labour MSP Mark Griffin moves to child benefit supplement amendments calling for a top up of £5 to child benefit, echoing the Give Me Five campaign call.

Mr Griffin says the government's announcement on income supplement was welcome if not overdue.

He says detail will take a year and children suffering now will have to wait until 2020.

"Only the top up of child benefit can deliver in the immediate and short term."

This would lift 30,000 children out of poverty, he claims, and that is why he presses his amendments.

Image source, bbc

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman moves on to amendments relating to adjusting benefits for inflation.

Ms Freeman says she will support her colleague Ben Macpherson's amendment relating to Funeral Expense Assistance.

She says Labour MSP Mark Griffin's amendments relating to the Carer's Allowance Supplement will require an additional investment of over £30m a year, but she says she is happy to make that commitment in recognition of the vital role carers play.

Mr Macpherson says his amendments will make sure Funeral Expense Assistance keeps up with inflation.

Mr Griffin welcomes the government's substantial movment on uprating.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says her party will back all the amendments in this group but criticises the lack of acommitment to uprate all benefits in line with all relvevant costs.

The amendments in this group are duly agreed to unanimously.

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson expresses concern about the burden of proof the amendments would place on prosecutors.

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton offers support for the amendments.

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman reassures members that it is not the Scottish government's intent to criminalise mistakes and argues Ms McNeill's amendments are not necessary.

She says the word 'reasonably' is well understood in law.

Reasonable excuses and any mitigating circumstances would be taken into account by the agency for is goes to the courts, adds Ms Freeman.

Labour MSP PAuline McNeill withdraws amendment 81 and does not move her other amendments.

Turning to a group of amendments of offences, Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says we must ensure genuine errors are not criminalised.

"There is no fairness in a system which allows for the prosecution of individuals for a simple mistake."

The policy memorandum does distinguish between genuine and fraudulent error but section 39 does not match this, Ms McNeill suggests.

She warns the wording is "over broad" and may unduly penalise people.

Labour MSP Mark Griffin's amendments 133 to 136 on overpayments are rejected.

Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour does not move his amendment 137, but Mr Griffin moves it in his stead.

It is duly rejected.

The minster has more luck as amendment 80 is unanimously agreed to, as is Jeremey Balfour's amendment.

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says his party will support all the amendments pressed from this group.

Green MSP Alison Johnnstone says her party will also back all the amendments, with the possible exception of amendment 80 on recovering assistance given in error after death.

Ms Johnstone calls for assurances this power will be used sparingly and with humanity.

Ms Freeman says the Bill guarantees people will be made fairly because it can only be recovered it over-payment is an individual's fault or if a reasonable person would notice it.

She says Mr Griffin's amendment would mean recoverability is based on "hairsplitting of different kinds of error".

Individuals will be able to challenge decisions on recovery, she confirms.

Responding to Ms Johnstone, the minister says the Scottish government will produce guidance for the agency to strike a balance on pursuing that power.

Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour confirms his party will support the government's amendments but not Labour's.

He confirms he will not move amendment 137, joking that some confusion around the amendment is due to a deficiency in his own drafting skills!

He says amendments 146 and 147 will clarify that the first-tier tribunal will be able to decide whether the agency has made the correct decision on recovery of money.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Mark Griffin says his party will support all the amendments in this group as they will help deal with overpayments in a fair way.

Mr Griffin says his amendments have the support of CPAG.

The Labour MSP says it is important people have the right to challenge decisions.

He says the current Bill is too strict on this issue, hence his amendments.