Westminster Welfare Cuts Hitting Women and Children the Hardest

Banff & Buchan MP and SNP Westminster spokesperson on Work & Pensions Eilidh Whiteford has condemned the UK Government’s discriminatory welfare reforms as fresh analysis has revealed that women will lose out the most due to Westminster’s changes to the benefits system.

The report, published today by the Scottish Government, highlights how key changes implemented in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 will disproportionately affect women and families, including the slashing of Child Benefit, reduction in the proportion of childcare costs covered by Working Tax Credit, and the overall benefit cap, of which 60 per cent of those affected by the change are single female households.

Commenting on the report, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“This report is extremely troubling. The UK Government’s benefits cuts are now shown to disproportionately affect women, particularly mothers and their children – one of the sections of our society that we should be protecting most.

“From tax credit changes to child benefit cuts and benefits disqualification, those who need support the most are being made to pay the price for Westminster’s economic incompetence.

“It doesn’t have to be this way, and it shouldn’t be this way. Scotland has already made its opposition to these welfare cuts absolutely clear, and a majority of Scots believe that the Scottish Government would be best at deciding welfare policy for Scotland. An SNP Government in an independent Scotland would abolish these discriminatory cuts and ensure that women and families get the support they need.”

The Scottish Government’s welfare reform analysis can be found at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform

YouGov (Fieldwork: 20th-22nd March 2013)
Sample size: 1105 Scottish adults

Which government do you think would be best at deciding welfare and pensions policy for Scotland?

The UK government - 34%
The Scottish government - 53%
Don't know - 13%