THE DWP Secretary will travel to Scotland later to pose for photos after ignoring three consecutive requests to appear before MSPs.
Therese Coffey, who was recently criticised for comments made about children living in poverty during England’s free school meals row, will travel north of the Border as part of Boris Johnson’s latest push for ministers to be more visible in Scotland.
Several ministers have visited Scotland in recent weeks after Westminster noticed increasing support for Scottish independence.
Since June polls from multiple surveying companies have shown support sitting between 53% and 55%.
READ MORE: Marcus Rashford: DWP Secretary slammed for reply to poverty fears
Johnson reportedly asked his ministers to travel to Scotland more frequently, while he planned a new scheme to put the Union flag on UK-funded infrastructure projects in the country.
Coffey will travel to Scotland to pose for photos as Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel, Alok Sharma and other Cabinet members have done lately – but has not managed to find the time to speak to MSPs on the Social Security Committee.
Shona Robison (below), a member of the committee, said while Coffey should be taking the economic crisis caused by Covid-19 seriously, “she’s choosing to completely ignore MSPs”.
The SNP MSP went on: “While the minister lacks the decency to even respond to the devolved governments, she can still find the time to fly up to Scotland for a flag waving exercise and cheap photo opportunity.
“It’s totally unacceptable for any government to try and dodge scrutiny in the midst of a global pandemic, but that seems to be the approach of Boris Johnson and his Tory colleagues.
“We’ve seen this before from Westminster – the Tories’ contempt for Scotland and our parliament knows no bounds.
“Colleagues from all parties are sick of this UK Government’s reluctance to engage with Holyrood’s stringent committee process. It’s time these ministers were held accountable.”
READ MORE: MSPs 'extremely disappointed' in Tory ministers for not attending committee
The DWP Secretary’s evasion of the Social Security Committee comes amid a time of financial hardship for many in Scotland.
In recent weeks it has emerged that tens of thousands of people had their Universal Credit cut during the coronavirus peak, while the department’s two-child benefit limit has hit nearly a million children.
A report from the Lords Economic Affairs Committee found that Universal Credit is failing millions of people, leading to soaring rent arrears and food bank usage.
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