UK and Holyrood told: join forces on benefits
Political Correspondent THE UK and Scottish governments have been told they must work together more effectively to ensure claimants are not the losers under a new social security system.
Fears over Universal Credit and Jobcentre closures in Glasgow have been raised as examples where communication between the two has been lacking to the detriment of people on benefits.
After a special joint meeting of the Westminster Scottish Affairs and Holyrood Social Security committees both have written to the government ministers involved.
With greater powers over welfare being devolved to Holyrood, but many still reserved to Westminster, and with the two governments at odds on welfare delivery and benefit cuts, the MPs and MSPs were concerned disputes will inevitably arise and they called for clear rules to resolve any conflict.
Ministers at the Department of Work and Pensions are due to respond within two weeks to the consultation to shut half of Glasgow’s jobcentres.
The decision to pursue closures was one which caused concern as Scottish Politicians were not informed of the proposal.
In a letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green, the joint committee chairs Sandra White and Pete Wishart, said: “In the course of our evidence sessions, we heard evidence about both Jobcentre Plus closures and the roll out of universal credit. Some witnesses raised concerns about the communication between the governments on these i mportant issues.”
The Scottish Government is opposed to the closures but UK ministers have continued to defend the plan which will see seven of the 14 Jobcentres in the city shut.
Welfare is one of the most contentious issues between the two governments with differences over sanctions and benefit cuts putting ministers at odds with one another.
The committees said a review of the agreement between the Scottish Government and DWP must ensure “that claimants do not lose out through the transfer of welfare powers and that they benefit when new powers are exercised.”
Sandra White MSP, Convener of the Scottish Parliament Social Security Committee, said: “Whilst there will always be political differences between the two governments, these cannot be at the expense of claimants.
“We have asked both governments to ensure they have a clear plan for how the transfer will done successfully.”