UK Government should pay people to have children or give Scotland the power to do so, SNP MP claims

The UK Government should pay people to have children or give Scotland the power to do so, an SNP MP has claimed.
A mother holding the feet of a new baby. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA WireA mother holding the feet of a new baby. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
A mother holding the feet of a new baby. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Kenny MacAskill warned the birth rate in Scotland was already low and the impact of Brexit meant numbers would now plummet even further.

The East Lothian MP accused the Treasury of not taking the issue seriously and called for more powers to encourage the nation to procreate.

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He said: “We all know that Brexit is going to hit hard across the whole swathe of Scottish employment and we have been dependent on those making their home in the country.

“Obviously the Westminster government has shown no inclination to act, but the Scottish Government lacks the powers used by devolved governments such as Quebec.

“So this is a matter for reconsideration by Westminster, or more likely for the devolution of powers to provide financial resources.

“I put parliamentary questions to the Treasury and it’s quite clear there are no steps they are currently taking beyond the payment of child benefit, which has been proven to be wholly inadequate.

“It is Scotland that is facing the crisis. It is therefore Scotland that should have the resources to be able to address it.”

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In 1988 Quebec introduced three programs to boost the birth rate, including paying $500 for a first child, $1,000 for a second, and $8,000 for each subsequent child.

In addition to this, parents with three children or more received more paid leave and maternity benefits, while families with two children under 18 were handed interest free loans to buy a home.

The former Cabinet Secretary for Justice is calling for the UK Government to consider similar such measures, or “devolve the powers for Scotland to do it”.

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He suggested surveying young people to find out what measures “would be best to persuade them”.

The former MSP said: “I’d have thought the starting point would be to discuss with young people why they are not having children. It may be a personal choice and that’s OK, but if it’s financial we need to ask what would work for them.

“I am sure there must be young people who want to have a family or increase their family, but have been restrained by financial restrictions.

“Is it a lump sum, is it a single payment? I don’t know, we need to find out from them.”

Data released last year by the National Records of Scotland showed Scotland's deaths could outweigh births over the next 25 years if migration from the EU falls dramatically.

Mr MacAskill explained the situation was so stark if action wasn’t taken now the country faced higher taxes to support the care of its older population.

He said: “Scotland is an ageing society and that is only going to accelerate.

“Therefore we need to encourage immigration and our birth rate or we face significant challenges in the years to come, such as care for the elderly and tax base to pay for them.”

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Responding to Mr MacAskill, Chief Treasury Secretary Steve Barclay said: “HM Treasury does not have a policy that pertains to increasing the birth rate in any part of the UK.

"There is a range of support available for those who have children including Child Benefit, which can be claimed for any number of children.”

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