Here's what's happening in politics across the UK, Scotland and North-east today.
Scottish Parliament
Today business in the Chamber includes:
- First Ministers Questions
- Portfolio Questions – Rural Affairs and Islands
- Scottish Labour Party Debate: Cost of Living* (text of motion below)
- Scottish Labour Party Debate: A People’s Scotrail** (text of motion below)
- Decision Time
The following Committees are meeting this morning:
- Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
- Public Audit Committee
- Social Justice and Social Security Committee
- Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
- Covid-19 Recovery Committee
*That the Parliament recognises the pressure being placed on household finances across Scotland due to rising inflation, increasing food and fuel prices, and high energy bills; considers that this will be exacerbated by the increase to National Insurance, the likely hike to the energy price cap in April 2022, and the rises in Scotland to rail fares and water charges, which it calls on the Scottish Government to review and defer; supports the calls for the UK Government to cut VAT on home energy bills for 12 months; endorses proposals to save most households around £200 on bills using that VAT cut and smoothing the costs of supplier failure, as well as to provide extra targeted support to those who need it most, including pensioners and low earners, by expanding and increasing the Warm Home Discount, giving those households an additional £400 off energy bills, and agrees that this should be paid for by a one-off windfall tax on increased oil and gas profits.
**That the Parliament welcomes the return of ScotRail to the public sector; considers the new public sector operator to be critical in securing modal shift and affordable, accessible and reliable rail services for Scotland’s passengers; condemns, therefore, the current plans for ticket office cuts and closures, service reductions, and the recent 3.8% increase in fares, which undermine progress towards net zero, modal shift and service improvement; considers that the new ScotRail, which will be under public ownership, must provide well-staffed, world-class services, and calls on the Scottish Government to rule out compulsory redundancies or any dilution of collective bargaining under the new operator, and further calls on the Scottish Government to reject tickets office cuts and closures and set out a timetable for restoring overall ScotRail services to pre-pandemic levels.
UK Parliament
Today’s business includes:
- Oral Questions to the Department of Transport (including questions on DVLA driving licence challenges, International travel restrictions, goods supply chain disruption, and support to the aviation sector)
- A Grand Committee debate on the Rising cost of household energy and the role of consumer protection legislation
Aberdeen City Council:
City Growth and Resources Committee meeting. Among the topics covered – Ellon Park & Ride to Garthdee Transport Corridor Study; and Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub.
Aberdeenshire Council:
Communities Committee meeting.