{"id":807,"date":"2015-07-02T15:55:48","date_gmt":"2015-07-02T15:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=807"},"modified":"2015-06-30T13:06:27","modified_gmt":"2015-06-30T13:06:27","slug":"weekly-round-up-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=807","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Round-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tuesday 30th June 2015<\/strong><\/h3>\n

SNP CALL ON LABOUR TO SUPPORT WELFARE POWERS IN SCOTLAND BILL<\/strong><\/p>\n

“CHOICE IS SCOTTISH CONTROL OR TORY CONTROL”<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Scottish National Party has challenged Labour to support more welfare powers for Scotland ahead of the Scotland Bill debates in Westminster today (Tuesday).<\/p>\n

SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson MP has said Labour had a choice between welfare powers being in “Scottish control or Tory control.”<\/p>\n

The SNP is proposing amendments to the Scotland Bill that would remove Westminster vetoes over using welfare powers; give the Scottish Parliament additional powers including devolving working age benefits and benefits relating to children; the power to legislate for employment support programmes; control over National Insurance, including employers’ National Insurance contributions; employment law; and equal opportunities.<\/p>\n

It comes on the day that the Citizens Advice Bureau \u2013 (CAB) Scotland – has pointed out in a briefing to MPs how far short of the Smith proposals the Scotland Bill\u2019s provisions currently are.<\/p>\n

Commenting Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP, Social Justice spokesperson, commented:<\/p>\n

“It is clear that the welfare elements of the Scotland Bill fall far short even of the spirit of the Smith Commission, as well as its letter. The clear intent of Smith was to give the Scottish Parliament ‘new powers to create new benefits in areas of devolved responsibility’. There is no mention of this in the Bill as presented.<\/p>\n

“Smith also stated that the Scottish Parliament should have ‘complete autonomy in determining the structure and value of these benefits or any benefits or services that might replace them’ – again, the Bill is far too restrictive on that issue. There are also restrictions on the definitions of carers which will limit what was proposed by Smith.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019Crucially, the Bill also limits the powers of the Scottish Government to continue to provide assistance through the Scottish Welfare Fund, and contains a Westminster veto over the Scottish Government\u2019s powers in certain areas of Universal Credit \u2013 and restrictions on employment programmes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is why the SNP’s welfare amendments to the Scotland Bill are so important, and why Scotland needs the Opposition parties to come together to support them. Labour will show where they stand – for Scottish control, or Tory control.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monday 29 June 2015<\/strong><\/h3>\n

IMPACT OF TORY CUTS ON SCOTLAND HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR FURTHER POWERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

REPORT FINDS CUTS PUT DEVOLVED REGIONS AT RISK<\/strong><\/p>\n

The SNP is today calling for the devolution of powers to boost the economy and create a fairer society \u2013 following the publication of a new report finding Scotland will be hit hardest by the next round of Tory cuts.<\/p>\n

The Capital Economics report finds that Scotland, along with the North East of England and Northern Ireland, will be \u201cmost likely to suffer from the next stage of fiscal consolidation\u201d.<\/p>\n

SNP MSP Linda Fabiani said:<\/p>\n

“This report highlights the disproportionate impact Tory austerity is having on the UK – and shows exactly why the powers to strengthen and grow our economy need to be included in the Scotland Bill currently making its way through Westminster. With these powers we could take action to close the gap between rich and poor and support those currently facing in-work poverty at the hands of the Tories.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut instead of boosting the minimum wage, ending the failed commitment to austerity and investing in jobs and infrastructure, David Cameron\u2019s big idea to strengthen the economy is to cut another \u00a312bn from the welfare budget as his attack on the working poor and vulnerable people intensifies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Tory plans aren\u2019t just economically illiterate \u2013 they are morally wrong. With these key economic and social powers in Scotland\u2019s hands, we can take real, decisive action to deliver a strong economy which works in everyone\u2019s interests and a fair society in which people who need help are supported and empowered rather than punished by the Tories.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tuesday 30th June 2015 SNP CALL ON LABOUR TO SUPPORT WELFARE POWERS IN SCOTLAND BILL “CHOICE IS SCOTTISH CONTROL OR TORY CONTROL” The Scottish National Party has challenged Labour to support more welfare powers for Scotland ahead of the Scotland Bill debates in Westminster today (Tuesday). SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson MP has said Labour had a choice between welfare powers being in “Scottish control or Tory control.” The SNP is proposing amendments to the Scotland Bill that would remove Westminster vetoes over using welfare powers; give the Scottish Parliament additional powers including devolving working age benefits and benefits relating to children; the power toRead More →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/807"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=807"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":813,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/807\/revisions\/813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}