Scots MPs lobbied on welfare bill

A COALITION of leading charities, faith groups and trade unions has written to Scottish MPs urging them to vote to uphold a series of amendments to welfare reform legislation agreed last week by the House of Lords.

The Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform (SCWR), an umbrella body of more than 60 organisations, has called on politicians to ratify the six amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill in the Commons.

The government’s flagship legislation suffered an embarrassing defeat last Wednesday in the Lords, but it will seek to overturn the measures when the bill returns to the Commons this week.

The SCWR, with members including the Scottish Trades’ Union Congress, Oxfam, Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, and the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council, warned a reversal of the amendments would have dire consequences.

Their letter states: “We have been pleased six very reasonable and practical amendments have been made in the Lords which we believe will provide important safeguards to the wellbeing of many of your constituents.

“The bill return to the Commons next week and you will have a vital opportunity to ensure that these six important amendments are upheld. Reversal would have a terrible impact on many of your constituents.”

Peers voted by 270 to 128 to prevent the government charging single parents for seeking help from the Child Support Agency (CSA).

The amendment put by former Conservative lord chancellor Lord Mackay of Clashfern garnered cross-party support. The defeat, the sixth for the bill so far, prevents a CSA charge of £100 or £50 plus a levy of up to 12% being charged to a single parent, usually the mother, who resorts to the agency in order to collect maintenance. Domestic abuse survivors would have been exempt.