SNP ask Tories for delay in transfer of Vow powers
Minister’s shock bid for discussions over delay which would see Westminster stay in charge of disability payments until 2021
SNP Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman has asked the Tories to keep control of welfare benefits for an extra year, despite regularly labelling the current system as cruel, we can reveal.
THe SNP Government have asked the Tories to keep control of a raft of welfare benefits for an extra year, the Daily Record can reveal.
The shock move would mean the UK Government retaining responsibility for disability payments until 2021 – despite the SNP lambasting the cruelty of the current system.
The revelations come just days after Scotland’s spending watchdog warned the Scottish Government still have a “significant amount of work” to do to smoothly take control of the new powers.
Control of welfare payments worth about £3billion a year was included in the vast package of powers transferred to the Scottish Parliament as part of the independence referendum Vow.
But the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions are still administering several benefits despite Holyrood being able to legislate on them since last year.
The “split competence” arrangement meant MSPs have “legislative competence” over the benefits but SNP ministers are not due to take “executive competence” for putting changes into effect till May 2020.
Now the Record has learned Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman asked for discussions with DWP officials about extending the transition until May 2021 during a meeting with UK Government ministers.
The SNP MSP suggested that as the UK Government are no longer facing a general election in May 2020, there is not the same need to meet the deadline.
But it’s feared any delay would have a knock-on effect on when Holyrood would be able to make improvements to benefits including disability living allowance and personal independence payments.
Campaigners are already frustrated at the time it’s taking to change a system they believe punishes vulnerable Scots.
The SNP had claimed it would only take 18 months to set up an independent Scottish state – including a new welfare system – if there had been a Yes vote in 2014.
Labour’s Social Security spokesman Mark Griffin blasted any suggestion of a further delay. He said: “The SNP Government have left vulnerable people at the mercy of the callous DWP and the Tories for far too long already. “News of a request to delay taking responsibility for these vital powers for another year is an absolute betrayal of carers, disabled people and struggling families.”
Tory welfare spokesman Adam Tomkins said the development explained why details of the meeting in late February have not yet been passed on to MSPs. He added: “It is more important that we get this right than to try to meet any artificial timetable.
“But nonetheless, if there is to be a delay, the Scottish Government need to be up front about why that is.”
A Scottish Government spokesman insisted ministers are still “on track” to deliver the new powers in the “current parliamentary term”.
He said: “There was a discussion between Ministers on the date for the transfer of executive competence taking into account dates of Scottish and UK general elections.
“This will not make any difference to the delivery of the 11 benefits that will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament which we are on track to deliver in the current parliamentary term.”
The Audit Scotland report published on Wednesday warned SNP ministers had “not clearly estimated” the cost of putting powers into practice, urging greater transparency.
With the goal of delivering the first wave of devolved benefits by summer 2019, auditors say the project is “at a critical point”, adding “a significant amount of work is required during 2018 if planned timescales are to be met”.
Freeman has said she wants the system to be based on “fairness, dignity and respect”.
Private firms will be banned from carrying out benefit assessments after the Record exposed a catalogue of failures in the current UK system.
The 11 benefits to be devolved include carer’s allowance, winter fuel payment, attendance allowance, severe disablement allowance, industrial injuries disablement benefit, funeral expenses, discretionary housing payments and some universal credit powers.
Vulnerable people have been left at mercy of callous Tories for far too long MARK GRIFFIN