Order, order!

Our last item of business today is a motion debate, in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is whether this Parliament approves the Motion for a Referendum on the Devolution of Welfare to the Scottish Parliament.

Motion for a Referendum on the Devolution of Welfare to the Scottish Parliament

This Pàrlamaid recognises–

(1) Welfare is currently reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom;

(2) In its Programme for Government, the twenty-first Scottish Government has committed that the Scottish Government will only engage in devolution negotiations if a motion has been debated and passed;

(3) That the Scottish people should be given the chance to choose whether their Pàrlamaid should have power over welfare legislation that affects nearly everyone’s lives.

Therefore, this Pàrlamaid–

(1) Calls on the Government of the United Kingdom to transfer the relevant powers to hold a referendum on welfare to this place, and;

(2) Authorises the Scottish Ministers to negotiate with HM Government on a welfare devolution referendum.

This motion was written and submitted by the Rt Hon Lady model-avtron LT CT PC MP MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach and Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Languages and the Constitution on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government. It was additionally co-sponsored by Forward and Scottish Labour.

Opening speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

In the most recent elections to the Scottish Parliament, a majority of Scots voted for parties that explicitly supported the devolution of welfare to it. That alone should be the catalyst for a referendum.

Yet it must be remembered that we also held a referendum years ago, where a majority of Scots voted yes.

To be clear, I believe that the optimal route for devolution of welfare should be a referendum where the Scottish people can choose their future.

I believe that welfare should be in the Scottish people’s hands. It’s simple really. The needs of Scots are often different from those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. That’s not to say I don’t support what recent UK governments have done, I believe Basic Income for example is an excellent policy. But it’s for the people of Scotland to decide how we treat Scots. I commend this motion.

This debate will end at 10pm BST on the 3rd of October 2023.