Formal Minutes
Tuesday 11 December
2007
Members present:
Mr Mohammad Sarwar, in the Chair
| Danny Alexander
Ms Katy Clark
Mr Ian Davidson
Mr Jim Devine
| | Mr Angus MacNeil
Mr Charles Walker
Ben Wallace
|
1. Poverty in Scotland
The Committee considered this matter.
Draft Report (Poverty in Scotland), proposed
by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft
Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 and 2 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 3 to 6 read and agreed to.
Paragraphs 7 and 8 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraph 9 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 10 read, as follows:
Our evidence has shown that poverty is caused by
low pay and low levels of benefits. Events such as family breakdown,
low educational achievement or unemployment, are often cited as
causes of poverty, but these factors are also to be found amongst
those who are relatively well off. At root, poverty is caused
by a lack of money. In 2000, our predecessor Committee found that
poverty could only be tackled with quality work and generous wholehearted
benefits for those unable to work. This remains the case.
Amendment proposed, in line 1, to leave out "caused"
and to insert "defined".—(Danny Alexander.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
|
Ayes, 3
Danny Alexander
Mr Charles Walker
Ben Wallace
| | Noes, 3
Mr Ian Davidson
Mr Jim Devine
Mr Angus MacNeil
|
Whereupon the Chairman declared himself with the Noes.
Paragraph 10 agreed to.
Paragraphs 11 to 19 read and agreed to.
Paragraphs 20 to 22 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 23 to 37 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 38 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 39 to 47 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 48 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 49 to 54 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 55 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 56 to 60 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 61 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraph 62 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 63 read, as follows:
A lower wage for young adults may seem justifiable
on the grounds of experience and skills, but the tiered nature
of the minimum wage can have an extremely negative impact on vulnerable
young people entering work for the first time, pushing them into
poverty. This is a particular problem for young people who may
not have the support of a family home at this crucial time, for
example, those leaving care. We recommend that consideration
be given to ending the discrimination against young workers inherent
in the current structure of the minimum wage. We are particularly
concerned that young adults on training courses should be able
to support themselves at a decent level. We agree with the Minister
that "Apprenticeships are not meant to be just a source of
cheap labour for people" and we urge the Government to ensure
that the guidelines surrounding pay and conditions for trainees
are properly enforced.
Amendment proposed, in line 6, to leave out "consideration
be given to ending the discrimination against young workers inherent
in the current structure of the minimum wage" and to insert
"the discrimination against young workers inherent in the
current structure of the minimum wage should end".—(Mr
Jim Devine.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 3
Mr Ian Davidson
Mr Jim Devine
Mr Angus MacNeil
| |
Noes, 2
Danny Alexander
Ben Wallace
|
Paragraph 63, as amended, agreed to.
Paragraph 64 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 65 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 66 to 75 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 76 read, amended and agreed to.
A paragraph—(Mr Ian Davidson)—brought
up, read the first and second time, and inserted (now paragraph
77).
Paragraphs 77 to 85 (now paragraphs 78 to 86) read
and agreed to.
Paragraph 86 read, amended, divided and agreed to
(now paragraphs 87 and 88).
Paragraphs 87 to 111 (now paragraphs 89 to 113) read
and agreed to.
Paragraph 112 (now paragraph 114) read, amended and
agreed to.
Paragraph 113 (now paragraph 115) read and agreed
to.
Paragraph 114 (now paragraph 116) read, amended and
agreed to.
Paragraphs 115 to 120 (now paragraphs 117 to 122)
read and agreed to.
Paragraph 121 (now paragraph 123) read, amended and
agreed to.
Paragraphs 122 to 128 (now paragraphs 124 to 130)
read and agreed to.
Paragraph 129 read, as follows:
Whilst we support measures to encourage the growth
of credit unions, the Government must avoid undermining the responsible
lending premise of the credit union by attempting to extend their
activities to those who do not have the necessary money to qualify
for a loan.
Paragraph disagreed to.
Paragraphs 130 to 134 (now paragraphs 131 to 135)
read and agreed to.
Paragraph 135 (now paragraph 136) read, amended and
agreed to.
Paragraph 136 to 140 (now paragraphs 137 to 141)
read and agreed to.
Paragraphs 141 to 146 (now paragraphs 142 to 147)
read, amended and agreed to.
Summary amended and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report
be the Second Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman
make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That embargoed
copies of the Report be made available, in accordance with the
provisions of Standing Order No. 134.
Written evidence was ordered to be reported to the
House for printing with the Report.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 15 January at 11am
| 
