To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from Independent Age for a pensioner poverty strategy for Scotland. (S6O-04438)

The Scottish Government’s “A Fairer Scotland for Older People: A Framework for Action” contains a dedicated strand focused on activity that we are undertaking to ensure that people are financially secure and supported as they age. Independent Age is a valued member of the older people’s strategic action forum. We engage regularly with the group on actions that we take to support the needs of older people in Scotland.

In addition, we provide funding of £2.2 million, through the equality and human rights fund, to older people’s organisations and age equality projects. That funding is delivering a range of initiatives that tackle poverty among older people.

Despite the framework that the Cabinet secretary referred to, one in six pensioners in Scotland are living in poverty, and that number is on the increase. It is little wonder that polling by Independent Age shows that more than 90 per cent of older people back calls for a long-term strategy from the Scottish Government to reduce that poverty.

Will the cabinet secretary give a clear commitment that, when the Government sets out the refreshed “A Fairer Scotland for Older People” framework, it will contain new, comprehensive measures across all Government departments that will increase older people’s incomes and cut their costs? Will it contain a clear commitment to reducing the level of pensioner poverty?

Colin Smyth raises an important point, which is that this involves work right across Government and not just in social justice. I gently say to him that it also involves work right across all Governments. What does not help pensioner poverty is the United Kingdom Government refusing to compensate WASPI women—women against state pension inequality—or taking away winter fuel payments.

Nonetheless, despite those strong headwinds from the UK Government, we are keen to do what we can, within our mainly fixed budget, to support older people. We absolutely appreciate that there is a cost of living crisis for many older people. That is exactly why the Government is committed to free bus travel for everyone aged 60 and over. It is why we have investment in income maximisation support, why we are helping with energy efficiency and heating, and why we are looking at crisis interventions. We will continue that work—it is exceptionally important that we do that.

Another part of the work is around the social tariff, which will help many older people. I hope that the UK Government will take up the recommendations that will come from the working group in due course.

It is astonishing that Labour has the brass neck to talk about rising pensioner poverty after taking away up to £300 a year in winter fuel payments; failing to deliver £300 cuts to household energy Bills and presiding over another nearly £300 rise in those bills; and after its betrayal of WASPI women, who are seeking pension justice. Does the Cabinet secretary agree that, if Labour is serious about tackling pensioner poverty, it must reverse its cuts to winter fuel payments and honour its manifesto commitments to pensioners?

Mr Gibson raises an important point. Even though the Scottish Government has stepped in and will reinstate a universal winter fuel payment for pensioner households in Scotland, it would still be advantageous if the UK Government did so in the rest of the UK, because that would allow block grant adjustments. We are mitigating many UK measures, and this is a new one.

Mr Gibson is also right to point out the further increase in fuel Bills. He points correctly to the fact that it takes all Governments to work to alleviate pensioner poverty. The Scottish Government will do what it can. It will mitigate where it can, but we need the UK Government to do similar things.