Ministers need to consider Scottish families

A fair and efficiently functioning social security system is essential to eradicating child poverty in Scotland; a goal shared by UK and Scottish government alike. Yet the UK coalition government’s Welfare Reform Bill, about to return to the Commons after a series of defeats in the Lords, is built on an unprecedented £18 billion of cuts to social security, to both in- and out-of-work benefits and tax credits.

However, they are in a position to do all within their powers to limit the damage of UK policy. It is now vital that the Scottish Parliament ensures that new responsibilities being devolved to Scotland for replacing important parts of the welfare system - such as council tax benefit, community care grants and crisis loans - are used to support families more effectively in the face of wider UK cuts.

Ministers need to think about what schemes to put in place to better meet the needs of families, particularly given the overall damage to family incomes that will result from the Bill. Changes to UK welfare policy also create opportunities for local and national government in Scotland to ensure devolved benefits such as free school meals, the energy assistance package and healthy start vouchers are designed in such a way as to reach more children in poverty. Finally the need for government in Scotland to fund and support advice services to help ensure people get the financial supports they are still entitled to is now greater then ever.

In the meantime, all eyes are back on the House of Commons with MPs due to debate the Welfare Bill again on 1 February. It is vital that Scotland’s representatives at Westminster uphold the six Lords amendments to the UK government’s proposals to cut: housing benefit for tenants with a spare room; introduce an arbitrary 'benefits cap'; time limit contributory Employment Support Allowance and abolish it for young people; and charge lone parents to use the Child Support Agency.