Dr. Ciara Fitzpatrick:

We have already talked about a few of the systems that would be preferable to the current ones in place on both sides of the Border. We talked about the Scandinavian systems and the power they throw behind ensuring working-age people have a good standard of living, rather than the minimum standard of living and the lowest common denominator target we currently have. We also spoke briefly about how Scotland has used its now limited devolution powers on social security to try to embed a different ideology of dignity and respect into their social security institutions through the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018. Dr. Boland may wish to comment further on that.

On the universal basic income, I must confess my head is so focused on social security that it is not an area of expertise I have. Like everybody else, though, I am watching with interest as to how the pilot scheme works in the South.

I am generally supportive of the general principle of an unconditional payment as of right. Obviously, difficulties come into play with regard to the level of payments and when or if they should increase. These are the same sorts of difficulties that exist in the social security system.

Finally, the Southern system shows quite a lot more generosity not only for unemployed people but for another population I would highlight, that is, children. Through more contributions to the bringing-up or rearing of children, this system shows that this is important work and that it and children themselves are valued. It is completely the opposite in the UK system where we have really punitive measures such as the two-child limit whereby universal credit is received for the first two children. As Ms Hanna will know, we have seen cuts to the holiday hunger payment and to a baby books scheme. We also have no childcare strategy for those children under preschool age even though the statistics bear out that 19.3% of women who are economically inactive are in that situation because of family and caring commitments involving children under preschool age. In terms of purchasing power, I am particularly concerned for families and families of young children in the North who are being more than neglected. It is a very difficult place to raise a family at different levels of income. As the committee will have heard me say previously, I have experience of this from a personal perspective because I have two children under preschool age myself. When I get to the end of the month, all of my wages are gone and I always wonder how people with lower salaries than mine - I acknowledge that I am very privileged to have an above average salary - are able to cope and able to work.

We will see impacts on the economy. People who have children and people who are disabled are contributors to the economy. They should have purchasing power but the purchasing power of the very poorest is very limited at the minute. All of that feeds into this soaring growth in inequality and the widening gap between those at the top of the income scale and those at the very bottom. As a result of that widening gap and the purchasing power of those at the very top, what is often happening is that the voices of those at the very bottom are being obscured and hidden. That is something we must all be really mindful of.