Overhaul of welfare reforms ‘will cost £3.7bn’

UK government welfare reforms introduced since the Conservatives came to power in 2010 will result in the loss of £3.7 billion worth of benefits in Scotland by 2020-21, a new report has estimated.

The report also warned that without changes “the impacts of other cuts will continue to grow over the next few years” as more people are transferred onto Universal Credit, which replaces other welfare payments.

Social security secretary Shirley-anne Somerville said the report from the Scottish Government on the impact of benefit reforms “paints a stark picture of the reality of life for many people in Scotland”.

Ms Somerville made the call after the report showed the benefit freeze would result in the loss of £367 million to Scots by 2020-21.