MSPs call for separate bill on welfare

The Scottish Government is being urged to introduce its own bill to allow greater scrutiny of the impact of changes to the welfare system.

The suggestion follows an inquiry at Holyrood into the Westminster Welfare Reform Bill.

MSPs on the health and sport committee supported two areas of the bill – on data sharing and industrial injuries benefit – but argued for a different approach to areas such as the proposed universal credit scheme.

Committee convener Duncan McNeil said: “Many of the witnesses we heard from voiced serious concerns and strong criticism about the changes to the UK benefits system proposed in the Welfare Reform Bill.

“While many of these arise due to lack of detailed information … they cannot be ignored, which is why we have asked the Scottish Government how tenable it would be to bring forward legislation to address them.”

The committee heard that policies in Scotland such as free school meals and the blue badge scheme for disabled drivers could be affected as they are linked to benefits which will be changed as part of the reforms.

MSPs also agreed to call for a specific subject committee at Holyrood to further scrutinise the bill’s impact on Scotland.