WEIR COMMENTS ON VAGUE WELFARE CHANGES

LACK OF DETAIL LEAVES CONCERN OVER INCAPACITY BENEFIT

Speaking ahead of the Second Reading of the Welfare Reform Bill today (Monday) Mike Weir MP, SNP Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions, said that he supported in  principle the desire to encourage people off benefit and into work but warned that it must be done with sensitivity and criticised the lack of detail on the face of the bill.

"In its 73 pages the bill mentions the regulations nearly 300 times yet we have yet to see them. The result of this is that the debate is taking place in a vacuum since we do not know the detail as to how the changes will be implemented.

"There are serious concerns about the introduction of compulsion, how the Personal Capability Assessment will be operated particularly in relation to those with mental health and learning disabilities, and the
danger that private providers will cherry pick cases.

"All these matters must be properly assessed. We also must accept if this process is to be carried through properly it cannot be seen as a money saving measure, and might indeed cost more in the short term.

"Dealing with the large numbers on incapacity benefit, most of whom would gladly work if able to or able to find appropriate work, cannot be done merely by changes in benefit. There must also be real efforts to create more jobs in areas where there are high numbers of claimants and also work with employers to encourage the employment to those with disabilities."