THE UK Government’s controversial plan to cut the welfare benefit cap is set to cost thousands of Scots more than £3,000 a year on average, an opposition MP has warned as the Tories were accused of being as “callous and uncaring as ever”.
An annual limit on the total amount of benefit working-age households can claim was reduced from £26,000 to £20,000 by Tory ministers, a cut Labour MP Ian Murray said was “vindictive” and that would harm poverty-stricken families.
However, an official impact assessment estimated that 5,000 Scottish households could now be affected by the cap, with a family’s benefit entitlement reduced by an average of £60 per week (£3,120 a year) if they do not take action to avoid it.
The row came as Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green said Theresa May’s government will not cut benefits any further than already planned, but stated that it would stick by cuts previously announced.
However, Edinburgh South MP Murray said existing UK Government austerity measures such as the cut to the welfare benefits cap would lead to a sharp increase in poverty.
Murray, Scottish Labour’s Westminster spokesman, challenged Green and May to scrap the measure if they were serious about moving away from austerity.
He said: “This vindictive policy is just the latest stage in the Tory government’s concerted assault on social security. Cutting the benefit cap is immoral and unnecessary, and will penalise families already struggling to make ends meet.
“The Tory government’s own analysis shows that up to 5,000 Scottish households could now be affected by the cap, potentially losing around £3,120 a year. Whatever Theresa May claims, it is clear that the Tories have not changed one bit – they remain as callous and uncaring as ever.
“Labour has led the fight against cuts to social security, forcing the government to back down on tax credits and ensuring that carers are not affected by the benefit cap. If Theresa May is serious about creating a country that works for everyone she should abandon these senseless and divisive cuts.”
Green, speaking on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show, suggested that claimants were prepared for cuts the UK government had already announced.
He said: “The commitment that the Prime Minister has made since she took office has been that obviously we will meet the previous commitments we’ve made.
“But there will be no new search for cuts in individual welfare benefits.
“You’re right that the period of austerity meant that tough decisions had to be taken across the board, not just in the welfare system. There are things that have been announced that haven’t yet been introduced but people know that they are coming.”
Meanwhile, it was confirmed that MSPs will finally get an opportunity to quiz the Work and Pensions Secretary following repeated snubs by previous ministers.
Green will appear before the Scottish Parliament’s social security committee in November.
The Department for Work and Pensions declined 11 invitations for top ministers to appear before the predecessor welfare reform committee in the last parliament.
Green’s visit will be the first time a UK Work and Pensions Secretary will appear in front of a Scottish Parliament committee.
Sandra White, convener of the Social Security Committee, an SNP MSP, said: “The previous welfare reform committee of this Parliament tried and failed 11 times to secure a UK Government minister to appear in front of them. I am particularly pleased that the secretary of state has agreed to come and that the committee will have the opportunity so early on in this Parliament to question him on their approach to welfare reform.
“The timing of this session is especially important as the UK Government hands over certain welfare powers over to the Scottish Government.
“This committee will play a key role in making sure that people in Scotland are not negatively impacted upon through this transition.”
The committee will seek evidence on the devolution of welfare to Scotland and how the two governments will work together to deliver a benefits system across the UK as well as the operation of Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payments and sanctions.
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