Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Brian Leishman and Kirsty McNeill

Wednesday 22nd October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Kirsty McNeill]

A child poverty strategy is on the way and will be released in due course. I can underscore our commitment to fighting child poverty with every breath we have. That is what Labour Governments have always done, and it is what this Labour Government will do, too.

[Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth) (Ind)]

This weekend, thousands of people will march in Edinburgh to say that Scotland demands better. We are right to do so, because the Poverty Alliance says that one in six adults in Scotland—around 1.2 million people—are living in food insecurity. What are the Scotland Office and the wider Labour Government doing to end food insecurity for Scots?

[Kirsty McNeill]

Our commitment to ending poverty is clear. We have had a clear focus on living standards; work is increasingly now paying; and we are focusing on ensuring that none of Scotland’s children is subject to the poverty that the hon. Member so vividly describes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Brian Leishman and Kirsty McNeill

Wednesday 5th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Kirsty McNeill]

I have not had that chance, but I would be delighted to do so. Scottish education is, of course, devolved to the SNP Government. SNP Members should think long and hard about the fact that they have claimed that it is their No. 1 priority and yet the attainment gap is growing. Working-class kids’ education and exam results were explicitly downgraded by the serving First Minister. We would be delighted to partner with anyone across these islands who wants to increase educational opportunity for our young people.

[Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth) (Lab)]

3. What steps his Department is taking to support economic growth in Scotland.