Universal credit a deeply flawed idea
On Monday, MPs and MSPs from the House of Commons’ Scottish affairs committee and the Scottish Parliament’s social security committee took part in a joint session to discuss the devolution of social security powers to Scotland.
We questioned work and pensions secretary Damian Green and cabinet secretary for communities, social securities and equalities Angela Constance on the transfer of 13 benefit payments from Westminster to Holyrood – which represents control of around 15 per cent of social security spending.
The SNP has consistently raised concerns about the rollout of universal credit and what appears to be some very deep flaws right at the heart of the Tory’s flagship benefit.
The UK Government must act now to ensure that our most disadvantaged families and individuals are protected – new claimants of universal credit are forced to endure a six-week wait for payments.
It is vital that steps are taken to make sure disadvantaged people do not fall into rent arrears and are not forced to rely on food banks or payday loans simply to get by.
The committee session showed Damian Green to be out of touch with the misery facing many universal credit claimants.
He seems to think that the catalogue of failures with the payment are just “teething problems” or that they are over – he needs to act now and introduce a full review and immediate reconsideration of the arbitrary six-week waiting period.
Universal credit is due to be fully rolled out in Rutherglen and Cambuslang by October, and I will continue to press the DWP on this very important issue to ensure my constituents are not adversely affected.
The DWP continue to get things wrong in the area, and there has regrettably been little movement on the job centre closure in Cambuslang.
Myself and my colleagues had to drag a DWP minister to a Westminster debate to answer our concerns last week.
They still remain utterly clueless as to the rationale for the Cambuslang closure.
During the debate, I asked the minister if the department was aware of the issues affecting Cambuslang – if they were aware that Royal Bank of Scotland closed its doors there just months ago, that local traders have subsequently suffered a reported 30 per cent drop in footfall, or that the two remaining banks, TSB and Clydesdale, have announced that they too are to close in the coming months.
The minister was unable to respond to my enquiry if it had considered the cumulative impact that those closures will have along with the closure of a major resource such as the job centre.
Perhaps if the DWP had bothered to consult me, they would be better informed.
The fight on this front very much continues.
On a lighter note, I want your help to nominate a local Indian restaurant as part of the annual Tiffin Cup competition.
Three local restaurants are participating in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West selection contest, and I need you to help choose between Chaudhary’s in Rutherglen, and Indiana Dome or Cinammon in Cambuslang.
Voting will last until Friday, March 24 on my Facebook page.
Perhaps if the DWP had bothered to consult me, they would be better informed