The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Sturgeon asks for salary powers
Call for control over minimum wage
First minister-in-waiting Nicola Sturgeon has called on Westminster parties to back proposals to hand powers over the minimum wage to Holyrood.
Over the past few weeks several major charities, such as Engender, Poverty Alliance, Children 1st and SCVO (Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations) have asked for the power to be devolved in order to tackle poverty north of the border. The outcome will depend on recommendations from the Smith Commission which is looking at how to strengthen devolution after rejection of Scottish independence in the September referendum.
Both Tories and Labour reject Ms Sturgeon’s call on the grounds it will unbalance efforts to improve the standard of living across the UK and cause a “race to the bottom”. Ms Sturgeon, who will be named as SNP leader later this week in In- verness, said the UK-wide minimum wage has not given Scotland the flexibility needed to help people.
“Scotland badly needs more powers over employability and welfare to ensure that we are better equipped to tackle inequality, and undo the damage of Westminster’s unfair cuts that hit the poorest hardest,” she said last night before an event for new SNP members in Inverness.
“That is why I amc alling on each of the West minster parties, including Scottish Labour leadership candidates, to commit to supporting this positive proposal from civic Scotland.”
A Tory spokesman said the government had increased the minimum wage to £6.50 an hour, in line with the recommendations from the Low Pay Commission.
A party spokesman said: “This UK-wide approach ensures a level playing field and helps ensure the continuing recovery of Scotland's jobs market.”
A Labour spokesman said: “Rather than talking about more powers, perhaps Nicola Sturgeon could explain why she failed to use the powers she already has and sided with the Tories to vote down Labour’s living wage proposals.”