A LEADING trade union has described how the Scottish Government can build a Scottish welfare state to end the scourge of poverty and treat people with “dignity and compassion”.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which represents the social security workforce in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as well as staff in a future devolved agency, outlined its vision in a submission to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a ‘New Future for Social Security’.
PCS said it was keen to engage in how the new powers Scotland has could provide an opportunity to create a Scottish social security system based on the principles of support, dignity and compassion, in keeping with its long-term view of an alternative vision for welfare.
Its response was among the “huge” amount of feedback from a three-month consultation that saw more than 120 events across the country.
Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said the number of responses and the positive engagement of people were “a powerful indication” of the strength of feeling on the issue.
She said: “Social security is an investment we all make in ourselves and in each other – none of us knows when we might need that support, and the benefits coming to Scotland will affect one in four of us.
“Engaging with people across all of Scotland, reaching every part of the country, means we now have a huge amount of feedback that will be invaluable to how we design and deliver social security.
“We have heard personal testimony – face-to-face and in writing – from people who have shared often harrowing and upsetting personal experiences.
“Each and every one of these conversations will contribute to helping us deliver these new social security powers so that they have dignity and respect at their core.
“This consultation has been a huge effort to gather views from as many people as possible – the size of the response is a powerful indication of how strongly people feel about the social security system they want for Scotland and I am very grateful to everyone who took part.”
Freeman said the responses would all be considered ahead of a report being published early next year.
The PCS said its submission, based on a detailed understanding of the current delivery systems, offered detailed suggestions on how the Scottish Government can build a Scottish welfare state to end the scourge of poverty.
Lynn Henderson, its national officer, said: “The PCS alternative and progressive vision requires a major cultural shift from the punitive, scapegoating and sanctioning welfare regime that has dominated the last three New Labour to Coalition and Tory Westminster Governments.
“Our clear view is that the delivery of devolved social security to Scotland should remain strategically within civil and public services, delivered by staff encouraged to take pride in the work they do and are committed to providing a service that secures a decent standard of living for the retired, the unemployed and those who cannot work.
“As public sector workers, social security staff must also expect to be treated fairly at work and rewarded fairly too.”
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