Shambolic Mismanagement of Welfare Changes Shows Need for YES Vote

As Westminster debates the performance of the Department of Work and Pensions, the SNP has made clear that Westminster’s continued failure on welfare shows why Scotland needs to be able to make our own decisions.

With the rollout of Universal Credit years behind schedule and substantially over budget, it is still unclear if and when full implementation of the policy will occur. Problems introducing a computer system to manage the policy saw £40 million spent on software completely written off and a further £90 million spent on IT that will only be of use for five years.

Earlier this year Iain Duncan Smith was forced to personally intervene to stop Universal Credit being placed on a register of major public risks with a ‘red rating’ which would show the policy was unachievable within reasonable timescales and to a reasonable budget.

Meanwhile the introduction of Personal Independence Payments was described as a “fiasco” in recent days by the influential Public Accounts Committee at Westminster.

Scotland’s Future set out a promise to abolish the Bedroom Tax and halt the further rollout of Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments in an independent Scotland as part of the process of creating a fairer welfare system.

Commenting, SNP Work and Pensions Spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“The DWP has serious questions to answer over its poor performance in recent years and the way in which it has completely mismanaged the implementation of Universal Credit.

“But those failings do not disguise the fact that they are trying to implement a poorly designed, punitive policy which has been shown to be unworkable.

“The whole package of these welfare cuts has been a disaster from start to finish and has served only to waste money and punish the least well off in society.

“From the introduction of the Bedroom Tax to the delayed rollout of Universal Credit, we have seen nothing but failure with all too many people paying a heavy price for Westminster’s cuts agenda. As a result of these cuts, 100,000 more children in Scotland face poverty and food bank use has rocketed by 400 per cent in the last year.

“This sorry fiasco has once again underlined why Westminster cannot be trusted to get it right when it comes to making decisions over welfare. We need the opportunity to make our own decisions in Scotland that only a Yes vote will provide.

“Scotland is a wealthy country, more prosperous per head than the UK, France and Japan. With a Yes vote in September can use our wealth to make our own choices on tax and welfare and build a system that better reflects the values of people in Scotland.”

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Whiteford Praises New Byth Vintage Rally

Local MP Eilidh Whiteford has praised the turnout at the New Byth Steam and Vintage Rally held yesterday (Sunday) which saw a high turnout of over 160 tractors, along with vintage cars, motorcycles and stationary engines.

Eilidh Whiteford MP with Duncan Morrison of Maud

The event is an annual fixture in vintage vehicle enthusiasts’ calendar and draws entries from a wide area.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“I was pleased to be able to drop in on the New Byth Rally and meet with some of the exhibitors there.

“This event has been going for many years now and I congratulate the organisers on another excellent turnout of vintage vehicles.

“I was also pleased to be able to drop in on the Yes Scotland stall at the event which those staffing it told me had been very busy dealing with interested members of the public.”

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Local MP Hails Tremendous Effort at Turriff Relay for Life

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has hailed the tremendous effort of local fundraisers at the Turriff Relay for Life event which saw over £90,000 being raised this weekend for Cancer Research.

The local MP, who was present at the launch of this year’s event and also attended and spoke at the last event four years ago, praised the efforts of the local community in raising such a magnificent sum.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

“Relay for Life is such an inspiring event and it was an honour to be asked back to speak at it once again.

“The efforts made by all those who took part and contributed to raising such a tremendous sum are worthy of a special mention.

“I must also commend Lynne Cruickshank and her fellow committee members who have brought this event together with their unstinting hard work. Well done to everyone involved.”

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DWP Urged To Do More Following PIP "Fiasco"

Scottish National Party MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford has today raised the “fiasco” of delayed Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in the House of Commons with Work and Pensions Minister Mike Penning.

The SNP spokesperson for Work and Pensions asked the Minister if he would set out a timetable for clearing the backlog of all delayed PIP payments and asked what interim support would be offered to those having to wait more than 28 days.

The Department for Work and Pensions has been heavily criticised for its failure to manage PIP. The cross-party Public Accounts Committee warned that the PIP scheme has been “rushed” through with a “shocking” impact on claimants. MacMillan cancer support has said at least 4,500 cancer patients (29%) have waited six months or more to find out whether they will even be awarded their PIP.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“The Department of Work and Pensions is in a shambles and must do more.

“The Minister should have committed to providing interim support for those left below the bread line because of his government’s failings. The failures of the UK government have meant some of the most vulnerable people in our society have been forced to turn to food banks and loans whilst their claims are being decided – including people who are terminally ill.

“We know the majority of Scots want all welfare decisions made in Scotland rather than Westminster, and a Yes vote in September will make that a reality.”

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DWP Questions:

Dr Eilidh Whiteford:

"Mr Speaker, I have a number of very sick constituents who have been pushed into severe financial hardship because of the unacceptable delays to the PIP process. Some of them now dependent on foodbanks.

I listened carefully to the minister earlier, but will he set out a timetable for clearing the backlog, not just for terminally ill applicants but for all applicants, and what interim support will he offer those having to wait more than 28 days?"

Department of Work and Pensions Minister Mike Penning:

"Mr Speaker I repeat again, it is too long, I accept it is too long and I am determined to get it down. We are working with the providers to make sure, and we’re making sure that we, we actually get it down.

I will look into the individual case if the honourable lady wants to bring it to me, but I can’t repeat more. We are doing everything we possibly can to do this, but I’d rather see people being assessed than left like the previous administration did, without having any assessment too and just done on paper based assessments."

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