Third sector will play role in welfare devolution

Charities and other third-sector organisations that work with people who receive benefits have been invited to play a role in developing Scotland’s new social security powers.

The UK government intends to devolve additional powers over social security to the Scottish Parliament, in line with recommendations made by the cross-party Smith Commission last year.

The Scottish government is now launching a “series of discussions” on the Smith recommendations, which will see Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil ask stakeholders and organisations how new powers could be implemented and how they can help people in Scotland.

Mr Neil also spoke of the need for the Scottish government, charities and groups to “rally together to oppose austerity measures and push for positive change”.

An event in Edinburgh today will hear from Mr Neil as well as Nicola McEwen, Professor of Politics from the University of Edinburgh, and Julia Unwin, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Mr Neil will say: “Deeper cuts will present us with a real challenge, but today is about the positive future we want to create for everyone living in Scotland.

“By working together with our stakeholders to develop ideas on how we might use our new social security powers, and by listening to the people who rely on these benefits to cope with everyday life, I am confident we can develop policies better suited to the needs of the people of Scotland.

“This event is the first of many opportunities in the months ahead to listen to a range of views from people who work most closely with those affected by the UK Government’s welfare changes and cuts.”

Ms McEwen will speak about the “financial, political and bureaucratic challenges” as well as the opportunity “to rethink the principles underlying social welfare”.

Ms Unwin is expected to say: “The next phase of devolution presents an opportunity to introduce greater powers and incentives to invest in poverty-reducing approaches, with the savings from improved outcomes retained by the Scottish Government, and the costs of additional spending met from within the Scottish budget.”