Campaigners can lead the fight against Westminster's austerity agenda
Scotland’s third sector must unite and stand firm against the £12 billion welfare cuts proposed by the UK government.
Alex Neil, Scotland’s social justice secretary, will tell the Child Poverty Action Group’s (CPAG) conference today (12 June) that a united stance is needed to repel Westminster’s welfare cuts agenda.
He will argue Scots’ families will see a £130 million reduction as a result of the UK government’s freeze on working age benefits and tax credits for two years which will hit around estimated one million families.
“The UK government’s proposed £12bn cuts will have a detrimental impact on Scotland and will do nothing to tackle the scourge of child poverty,” Neil will tell delegates.
“We need to present a united front against these additional measures and I would encourage every organisation working to tackle inequalities and fighting poverty, to add their voice to this debate.
I would encourage every organisation working to tackle inequalities to add their voice to this debate - Alex Neil
“Through our child poverty strategy we are already working with partners to reduce levels of poverty amongst households with children and to break inter-generational cycles of poverty, inequality and deprivation.
“The Scottish Government, alongside CPAG and others, wants a more equal society, we want to create jobs and lift people out of poverty, and we will continue to listen to the advice of organisations who are working directly with families across the country.
“However if we are having to fund mitigation then we have a much harder challenge ahead of us.
"Our resources should be used to take positive action and tackle existing inequalities, not fight just to keep people at a standing position.”
The conference brings together over 180 frontline advisers to get the latest details on what exactly is being proposed and share ideas on how new powers might be used to improve benefit support and tackle poverty more effectively.
John Dickie, director of CPAG in Scotland, said: “The discussion is crucial coming as it does against a backdrop of rising child poverty and the threat of further cuts to the UK benefits that families both in and out of work rely on.”
