Debate: Ending Austerity, Poverty and Inequality - 24 October 2018
Channel: The Scottish Parliament
Date: 2018-10-24

www.parliament.scot
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Scottish Labour Party Debate: Ending Austerity, Poverty and Inequality
S5M-14406 Elaine Smith: Ending Austerity, Poverty and Inequality—That the Parliament
notes with concern the recent publication of a number of reports that show that deep-rooted
poverty and inequality persists in Scotland’s communities; understands that revelations from these
reports include that, in the last 12 months, at least 94 rough sleepers died on Scotland’s streets
and that at least one in 10 people living in the poorest areas of Scotland ran out of food due to a
lack of money, and that life expectancy in Scotland has fallen for the first time in 35 years and
remains the lowest of all nations in the UK; believes that, while UK Government changes to the
benefit system are a significant driver of poverty, the Scottish Government has failed to use
the devolved powers adequately to challenge and address the root causes of poverty and
inequality, including those perpetuated by the policies of the UK Government, and, in doing so,
calls for an end to austerity in Scotland.
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Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.

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