Opposition day on Monday, 24 January 2022, in the House of Commons, led by David Linden. The answering members were David Rutley and Simon Clarke.

Cost of Living Increases

Ninth Opposition day debate, (part two). Motion, That this House notes there is a cost of living crisis hitting homes across the UK; regrets the UK Government’s current plan of reductions in certain benefits and tax rises coupled with rising costs of the UK leaving the EU; is concerned that the UK has the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north west Europe and the highest levels of in-work poverty this century; and calls on the Government to take immediate action with a package of measures to boost incomes and reverse rising poverty, including reinstating the £20 universal credit uplift, introducing a Real Living Wage of at least £10 an hour, introducing an energy payment for low income households, and matching the Scottish Government’s Scottish Child Payment for families across the UK. Closure motion agreed to. Main Question agreed to on division (57 votes to 0).

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 707 cc741-793
Session: 2021-22
Department: Department for Work and Pensions; Treasury
Procedure: Closure motions
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Proceeding contributions: David Linden | 707 c741 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move,
That this House notes there is a cost of living crisis hitting homes across ...; Douglas Ross | 707 c741 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman just spoke about the Government navel-gazing and having the wrong priority. Do...; David Linden | 707 c741 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. I have great respect for him, and I onl...; James Daly | 707 c742 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman made reference in his previous comments to the impact on constituents of the c...; David Linden | 707 c742 (Link to this contribution)
Gosh, that could have been a career-ending one for me there. At the moment, it appears that the L...; Daniel Kawczynski | 707 c742 (Link to this contribution)
I am wondering when the hon. Gentleman was going to get on to the subject of the debate, which is...; David Linden | 707 cc742-3 (Link to this contribution)
I find it rather ironic to take lectures from the hon. Gentleman about getting on with the job. H...; Duncan Baker | 707 c743 (Link to this contribution)
May I ask a quick question? Can the hon. Gentleman recall which of the following schemes rolled o...; David Linden | 707 cc743-4 (Link to this contribution)
It is on the record that the SNP supported a number of those schemes. For example, the furlough s...; Drew Hendry | 707 c744 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a very powerful point about the poverty faced by people in this current ...; David Linden | 707 c744 (Link to this contribution)
It is. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who very ably chairs the all-party group for terminal ill...; Matt Western | 707 c744 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Member for giving way; he is being generous with his time. On energy bills and t...; David Linden | 707 c745 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. I agree that it is important that we i...; Stewart Hosie | 707 c745 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a number of excellent points about the damaging nature of UK Tory policy...; David Linden | 707 cc745-6 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention. Yes, absolutely. The SNP has stood on succ...; Duncan Baker | 707 c746 (Link to this contribution)
It is interesting listening to the number of fiscal policies mentioned that are so terrible and h...; David Linden | 707 c746 (Link to this contribution)
I ask the hon. Gentleman to reflect on the fact that the UK was one of the worst hit by coronavir...; Daniel Kawczynski | 707 c747 (Link to this contribution)
One thing the hon. Gentleman has not mentioned in the course of his speech is the extent of the n...; David Linden | 707 c747 (Link to this contribution)
The problem with the hon. Gentleman’s intervention is that he suggests that this is some issue th...; Nigel Evans | 707 c747 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Mr Kawczynski, this is not a conversation; it is a debate.; David Linden | 707 cc747-8 (Link to this contribution)
You are right, Mr Deputy Speaker—it is not a conversation, and I am not in a position to help the...; Simon Clarke | 707 c748 (Link to this contribution)
I am glad to have this opportunity to respond on behalf of the Government. The UK economy is roar...; Peter Grant | 707 c748 (Link to this contribution)
In that glowing list of statistics that the Minister had prepared for him, does he have a figure ...; Simon Clarke | 707 c748 (Link to this contribution)
What the hon. Gentleman misses is that a jobs-based recovery lies at the heart of this Government...; Joanna Cherry | 707 c749 (Link to this contribution)
The Minister says that almost every other economy is facing similar issues, but, of course, other...; Simon Clarke | 707 c749 (Link to this contribution)
Contrary to that rendering of events, the challenges we face in relation to the supply of HGV dri...; Drew Hendry | 707 c749 (Link to this contribution)
The Minister has said that the Government will do whatever they can to help people. I have raised...; Simon Clarke | 707 cc749-750 (Link to this contribution)
I recognise the passion with which the hon. Gentleman speaks in this place. I am happy to take aw...; Matt Western | 707 c750 (Link to this contribution)
May I make two points? One is about jobs. I think the Minister would accept that the kickstart sc...; Simon Clarke | 707 c750 (Link to this contribution)
If we look at the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts, we see that they are for 6.5% growt...; Alan Brown | 707 c750 (Link to this contribution)
Given the increases in energy costs, can the Chief Secretary tell us how much extra VAT the Treas...; Simon Clarke | 707 c751 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. The concept of some kind of VAT windfall is fundamen...; Gavin Robinson | 707 c751 (Link to this contribution)
This is an important motion as it gives the House an opportunity to debate the cost of living cri...; Simon Clarke | 707 cc751-2 (Link to this contribution)
It is good to see the hon. Gentleman back in the Chamber. The reality is that nobody came into po...; David Linden | 707 c752 (Link to this contribution)
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury talks about the big decisions that the UK Government have tak...; Simon Clarke | 707 cc752-3 (Link to this contribution)
This Government have worked very closely and co-operatively with the Scottish Government in Holyr...; Ian Murray | 707 cc753-4 (Link to this contribution)
May I say how pleased I am that we are having this incredibly important debate today? While Parli...; Joanna Cherry | 707 c754 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to my constituency neighbour for giving way. He is talking about the price of food ...; Ian Murray | 707 cc754-5 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my constituency neighbour for that question. I hope that she watched with great interest ...; Alan Brown | 707 c755 (Link to this contribution)
While the hon. Member is on the action of the Scottish Government, I presume he is going to comme...; Ian Murray | 707 c755 (Link to this contribution)
What a valuable and timely intervention that was, because I was just about to talk about the chil...; Patricia Gibson | 707 c756 (Link to this contribution)
What would you cut?; Ian Murray | 707 c756 (Link to this contribution)
I hear hon. Members behind me asking from a sedentary position what we would cut—which is surely ...; Brendan O'Hara | 707 c756 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Member give way?; Ian Murray | 707 c756 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way if the hon. Gentleman will tell us how much the SNP has spent on ferries that has...; Brendan O'Hara | 707 c756 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member talks about the SNP turning our guns on the Opposition; perhaps if he was not so ...; Ian Murray | 707 c756 (Link to this contribution)
It is a strange thing that over the past five minutes we have heard SNP MP after SNP MP justify w...; David Linden | 707 c756 (Link to this contribution)
Unfortunately, we on the SNP Benches have to turn our guns everywhere because there are very few ...; Ian Murray | 707 cc756-8 (Link to this contribution)
There was not a vote on the welfare cap a few weeks ago. It was about giving more money to the po...; Douglas Ross | 707 cc758-9 (Link to this contribution)
I will begin by picking up a few remarks made by the hon. Member for Glasgow East (David Linden) ...; Steven Bonnar | 707 c759 (Link to this contribution)
We will use our currency—the Scottish currency—the Scottish pound.; Douglas Ross | 707 c759 (Link to this contribution)
The Scottish pound—there we go. That has answered all the problems. There are no concerns about w...; Peter Grant | 707 c759 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Hannah Bardell | 707 c759 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Douglas Ross | 707 c759 (Link to this contribution)
They are all excited now. I will give way to the hon. Member for Livingston (Hannah Bardell) in a...; Hannah Bardell | 707 c759 (Link to this contribution)
I am sure the hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that in the run-up to the independence refer...; Douglas Ross | 707 c759 (Link to this contribution)
I note, having asked the hon. Lady to tell me what currency an independent Scotland would have, t...; Nigel Evans | 707 c759 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I know that the hon. Member is having fun, but this is about the cost of living increase a...; Douglas Ross | 707 cc759-760 (Link to this contribution)
SNP Members are cheering because they are hoping that I move on very quickly. Like any good offic...; Joanna Cherry | 707 c760 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Douglas Ross | 707 c760 (Link to this contribution)
I have given way quite a few times—[Interruption.] Okay, I am happy to give way, but my answer to...; Joanna Cherry | 707 c760 (Link to this contribution)
Clearly the hon. Gentleman, having been described as a lightweight by his colleagues, is planning...; Douglas Ross | 707 cc760-1 (Link to this contribution)
It turns out that that was exactly the same question and the same point that the hon. and learned...; David Linden | 707 c761 (Link to this contribution)
It is reassuring that at least today the mantra from the Tories is that Scotland is the highest-t...; Douglas Ross | 707 c761 (Link to this contribution)
I have listened carefully to the hon. Gentleman, and I make this point: the tax rises that his Go...; Ian Murray | 707 c761 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Gentleman think that his Government’s national insurance tax rise in April helps or...; Douglas Ross | 707 c761 (Link to this contribution)
We have been clear, as my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury said, that the Go...; David Linden | 707 c761 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Douglas Ross | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way in a second, if the hon. Gentleman will show that he stands up for his constituen...; David Linden | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
I know the hon. Gentleman is used to running the line on a Saturday, but we are not all going to ...; Douglas Ross | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman knows that that was taken completely out of context. If he wants to repeat to ...; Owen Thompson | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg your forgiveness—I am not an expert in “Erskine May...; Nigel Evans | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
As Christmas has just passed, let us be a little generous. Have you finished your contribution, M...; Douglas Ross | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful for your generosity, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I will begin to conclude my speech.
...; Angus Brendan MacNeil | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. If the hon. Member for Moray (Douglas Ross) sits down, ho...; Nigel Evans | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
Well—I call Douglas Ross.; Douglas Ross | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
I would think a bit more about that comment if the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Angus Br...; Stephen Flynn | 707 c762 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman will be cognisant of the fact that Norway has an oil fund that is worth more t...; Douglas Ross | 707 c763 (Link to this contribution)
It is not worth nothing, because time and again we have seen the UK Government supporting Scotlan...; Stephen Flynn | 707 c763 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Douglas Ross | 707 c763 (Link to this contribution)
I have given way to the hon. Gentleman. That money was provided to support individuals, families ...; Stephen Flynn | 707 c763 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Douglas Ross | 707 c763 (Link to this contribution)
I have given way a lot, and I realise that your patience is being tested, Mr Deputy Speaker.
<...; Ben Lake | 707 c763 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to contribute to this important debate. May I begin by thanking my hon. Friend t...; Jamie Stone | 707 c764 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman represents a rural constituency, as I do; I represent one of the vastest and m...; Ben Lake | 707 c764 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. Like him, I represent a rural constituency, whe...; Angus Brendan MacNeil | 707 c764 (Link to this contribution)
One great problem is inequality —there is always a fuel poverty issue in good times as well as ba...; Ben Lake | 707 cc764-5 (Link to this contribution)
I agree with my hon. Friend. He makes an important point. Those who had the fortune of being able...; Jerome Mayhew | 707 cc765-6 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the SNP for calling this debate. As parliamentarians, it is absolutely right tha...; Angus Brendan MacNeil | 707 c766 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman is right that it is not so much about jobs as about earnings. Does he think th...; Jerome Mayhew | 707 c766 (Link to this contribution)
There is a trade-off between earnings and taxation: what people get to take home. I do not have t...; Navendu Mishra | 707 c766 (Link to this contribution)
The Living Wage Foundation has classified a living wage as an hourly rate of £11.05 in London and...; Jerome Mayhew | 707 c767 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. The Government are on a journey to get...; Jamie Stone | 707 c767 (Link to this contribution)
I rise to my feet as somebody who worked in the oil sector, but that is not what I want to addres...; Jerome Mayhew | 707 c767 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. Treasury Ministers are attending this d...; Tommy Sheppard | 707 cc767-8 (Link to this contribution)
The last few years have been times of great adversity and challenge for people across the globe. ...; Jerome Mayhew | 707 c768 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Tommy Sheppard | 707 c768 (Link to this contribution)
If the hon. Member is going to confirm that that is the Government’s intention, I will gladly giv...; Jerome Mayhew | 707 c768 (Link to this contribution)
I am very grateful to the hon. Member for giving way, but did he hear the Chief Secretary to the ...; Tommy Sheppard | 707 c769 (Link to this contribution)
Forgive me, but I think that most people will find that argument rather perverse: 5% on someone’s...; Jerome Mayhew | 707 c769 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Tommy Sheppard | 707 cc769-770 (Link to this contribution)
If the hon. Member does not mind, I would like to continue.
What the Government ought to be...; Hannah Bardell | 707 c770 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a very powerful point about independence. Does he agree that the real fe...; Tommy Sheppard | 707 c770 (Link to this contribution)
Indeed I do, but in closing I want to point to the monstrous deceit in this argument. It is a fac...; Robin Millar | 707 c771 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Tommy Sheppard | 707 c771 (Link to this contribution)
If it is on that point, I will, but I see that you, Madam Deputy Speaker, want me to finish.; Robin Millar | 707 c771 (Link to this contribution)
To the point about opinion being divided, I refer the hon. Gentleman to a survey on 25 November f...; Baroness Winterton of Doncaster | 707 c771 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Interventions must be brief. We have a lot of Members who wish to speak and I will have to...; Tommy Sheppard | 707 c771 (Link to this contribution)
I conclude by saying that it is a complete deceit to criticise the Scottish Government for not do...; 707 c771 (Link to this contribution); Baroness Winterton of Doncaster | 707 c771 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I am sorry, but as I said, I will have to put a time limit of six minutes on speeches; oth...; Andrew Bowie | 707 cc771-2 (Link to this contribution)
Duly warned and noted, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will not take up much of the House’s time—I am sur...; Angus Brendan MacNeil | 707 c772 (Link to this contribution)
Is the hon. Gentleman saying that walking out of a trade bloc and increasing red tape, meaning th...; Andrew Bowie | 707 c772 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman knows very well that separating Scotland from the United Kingdom would be far ...; David Duguid | 707 c772 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point about the cost and financial strife that an independent S...; Andrew Bowie | 707 cc772-3 (Link to this contribution)
Yes. That goes to the heart of one of the arguments that was made earlier about uncertainty for b...; 707 c773 (Link to this contribution); Baroness Winterton of Doncaster | 707 c773 (Link to this contribution)
Due to interventions, which obviously give others extra time, I am afraid that after the next spe...; Anum Qaisar | 707 cc773-4 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Andrew Bowie). ...; James Daly | 707 cc774-5 (Link to this contribution)
In opening the debate, the hon. Member for Glasgow East (David Linden) rightly pointed out that i...; Navendu Mishra | 707 c775 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Gentleman agree, that, since 2019, the market for vehicles has changed dramatically...; James Daly | 707 cc775-6 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his point. We have a complete difference of opinion. Both he and h...; Gavin Newlands | 707 cc776-8 (Link to this contribution)
While the immediate cause of the current cost of living crisis is being blamed on rising internat...; Duncan Baker | 707 cc778-9 (Link to this contribution)
It was only a couple of weeks ago that I stood here and spoke in the Labour Opposition day debate...; Kirsten Oswald | 707 cc779-780 (Link to this contribution)
It is interesting to see the contrast in how much attention the UK Government are giving to their...; 707 c780 (Link to this contribution); Baroness Winterton of Doncaster | 707 c780 (Link to this contribution)
I am afraid that I will have to reduce the time limit to four minutes. I have been able to warn t...; Christine Jardine | 707 cc780-1 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a pleasure to speak in this important debate and to follow...; Allan Dorans | 707 cc781-2 (Link to this contribution)
The rise in the consumer prices index will disproportionately affect those already facing pressur...; Baroness Winterton of Doncaster | 707 c782 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I call Alan Brown.
7.1 pm; Alan Brown | 707 cc782-4 (Link to this contribution)
It is incredible that in this cost of living crisis the UK Government have done nothing and that ...; Neale Hanvey | 707 cc784-5 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the SNP for bringing forward this important debate, and I commend the hon. Member for Gla...; Joanna Cherry | 707 cc785-6 (Link to this contribution)
It is a real pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Neale Ha...; Navendu Mishra | 707 cc786-7 (Link to this contribution)
A survey last year by 38 Degrees found that 36% of people asked in my constituency of Stockport h...; Alison Thewliss | 707 cc787-8 (Link to this contribution)
We have heard in this debate heartbreaking stories of constituents who are facing real and enduri...; Hannah Bardell | 707 c788 (Link to this contribution)
On food banks, does my hon. Friend agree it is disgusting that there are now more food banks in t...; Alison Thewliss | 707 cc788-9 (Link to this contribution)
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. While we know that those who work in food banks and suppo...; David Rutley | 707 cc789-790 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member for Glasgow Central (Alison Thewliss) speaks with conviction —I know that from ha...; Alan Brown | 707 c790 (Link to this contribution)
The Minister said that the Government will do everything it takes to resolve the cost of living c...; David Rutley | 707 c790 (Link to this contribution)
We have shown what we can do when faced with challenge. We are monitoring the situation and looki...; David Linden | 707 c790 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; David Rutley | 707 cc790-2 (Link to this contribution)
I will not give way just yet: I will make further progress.
The latest job figures tell a v...; Owen Thompson | 707 c792 (Link to this contribution)
claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).
Question put forthwith, That the Quest...; David Linden | 707 c793 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. During the Brexit campaign, we were all told that Parl...; Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 707 c793 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his very reasonable point of order. I am looking at the motion whi...
Subjects: Devolution Energy Fuel poverty Fiscal policy Government assistance Economic situation Inflation National insurance Low incomes Prices Scotland Sovereignty Taxation Unemployment Cost of living Universal credit Living wage Brexit
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

Cost of Living Increases

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