Support for families and seniors who are struggling due to rising food prices.
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 4th sitting, press briefing.
Date: 2024-11-20 15:43
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 8
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 6m
AI Summaries: 8/8 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's session of nine questions addressed the situation of families and seniors struggling with rising food prices, with questions directed to Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo regarding support measures. The questions highlighted the circumstances of vulnerable groups, including the elderly, low-wage earners, and large families, analyzing how taxes, excise duties, and prices impact them and whether existing support mechanisms are sufficient. There were also inquiries about targeted assistance and how to improve the coping abilities of single pensioners and other vulnerable groups, considering networks within local municipalities and the structure of state income support.
Minister Riisalo’s response included an overview of the situation, and the data and measures presented demonstrate a step-by-step effort by the state to improve people's coping abilities: increases in pensions and child benefits, updates to income support and the minimum subsistence level, expansions and increased flexibility in food support measures. Reference was also made to plans to replace income support with a better-targeted support model, and the autonomy of local municipalities and their increasingly important role in providing social assistance to alleviate the burden were emphasized.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Vladimir Arhipov, a member of the Riigikogu; he posed the main question and a clarifying question. Political position: other.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today's ninth question to the Minister of Social Protection, Signe Riisalo, concerns support for families and the elderly who are in difficulty due to rising food prices, and is submitted by Riigikogu member Vladimir Arhipov.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov expresses deep concern about the impact of rising prices, taxes and excise duties, and stresses that the most vulnerable—the elderly, low-income earners and large families—must continue to make hard choices every day as fuel, energy and food prices rise, while cuts to subsidies and insufficient targeting do not provide the necessary aid.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker, Lauri Hussar, thanks and turns to Madam Minister with a request.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
According to Social Protection Minister Signe Riisalo, poverty has improved in terms of indicators: relative poverty has fallen by 2.3% and absolute poverty by 0.8 percentage points; incomes have risen, and the rise in child benefits and pensions is particularly notable. Steps have been taken to modernize subsistence allowances, to replace the breadwinner's loss benefit, and to support people with disabilities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar thanked and asked Vladimir Arhipov to present a clarifying question.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They thank you for the reply, note that life is unfortunately somewhat different from your answer, and ask whether there are plans to implement a targeted support scheme that would help the most vulnerable families.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that the threshold for the subsistence benefit was raised from 150 euros to 200 euros, and the system would become more flexible to help the most vulnerable, and local governments would have autonomy and a duty to implement the necessary measures and to provide urgent assistance and additional aid to vulnerable groups, including clothing, food, and housing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, thanks the audience, states that there are no questions about this matter, and ends the consideration of the ninth question.