LABOUR ATTACK ON MOST VULNERABLE

Speaking today (Monday) in advance of an urgent parliamentary question on David Freud’s report into the future of the welfare state, MP for Angus and SNP Work and Pension Minister, Mike Weir, said:

“This is yet another example of Labour attacking the most vulnerable.  The fact of the matter is that most claimants want to work and continually attacking them will not make matters any better.  The government have to say where they are going to find the jobs for people coming off benefits.

“Many single mothers face serious problems with child care and that also needs to be addressed rather than forcing them back to work.  There remains, however, a fundamental discrepancy at the heart of this whole matter, on one hand government ministers claim that parents require to spend more time with their children to prevent anti-social behaviour, whilst on the other hand trying to force them out to work as soon as the youngest turns 12.  How many of these mothers are likely to find suitable jobs that link in with school hours?

“This policy will only cause anxiety.  They should see how the previous reforms in the Welfare Reform Bill work out before embarking on this ill thought out proposal”