SCOTLAND OFFICE COMPLACENT AND UNCARING OVER CRISIS LOAN CUTS

TORIES BACK TO BEING THE NASTY PARTY

SNP Work and Pension spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford MP has branded the Scotland Office as ‘complacent and uncaring’ over cuts to the level and availability of Social Fund Crisis Loans, warning that the decision would force people on low incomes towards high cost or illegal lending.

Dr Whiteford raised concerns at Scottish Question today (Wednesday) over the announcement that the Tory Government will no longer pay Crisis Loans for items such as cookers and beds; the rate paid for living expenses will be cut from 75 per cent down to 60 per cent of benefit rate; and the UK government will implement a cap of three Crisis Loan awards for general living expenses in a rolling twelve month period. In the last 12 months alone, over 17,000 people received ten or more Crisis Loans.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“It seems that the Tories have gone back to being the nasty party with this complacent and uncaring dismissal of the impact that cutting crisis loans will have on the poorest households.

“By their nature crisis loans are a last resort, and it is appalling that the Tory Government are cutting this safety net. The only winners from this will be loan sharks and high interest lenders.

“The fact that so many people have had to take out these loans should underline the difficulties that households are facing, but instead of trying to help the UK Government are making things much more painful.

“These are loans that people pay back, so these cuts are not about saving money. What they will do is force people who are in crisis to take out high interest loans or to go to loan sharks.

"With further powers over the economy and over the welfare system that supports our most vulnerable people we could put a stop to the Tories dismal decade of cuts, invest in growing our economy and support our most vulnerable properly so that together we can make Scotland better.”

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UK GOVERNMENT EXPOSED OVER WOMEN’S DAY HYPOCRISY

Revelations, on the 100th anniversary UN International Women’s Day, that the UK Government is trying to water down an international agreement to protect women against domestic and sexual violence have been condemned by the SNP.

Reports that UK officials have frustrated members of the Council of Europe with a last-minute intervention arguing that violence against women is not a violation of human rights, and that the UK Government wants the suggestion removed from the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence and replaced with a weaker phrase. In addition, it is also understood that the UK want to change the document, which has taken almost two years to negotiate, so that it only applies during peace time and not during armed conflict.

SNP International Development spokesperson, Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP, who is taking part in the International Women’s Day march in Westminster today, said:

“These revelations are all the more shameful emerging on International Women’s Day and expose shocking hypocrisy on the part of the UK Government.

“On the day that the Home Office publish an action plan to end violence against women and girls, behind the scenes they are trying to water down an international agreement to protect women. It is disgraceful double standards.

“What a contrast between the UK Government and the SNP Scottish Government that is taking action improve and support women across all parts of Scottish life and to help Scottish organisations support women in developing countries.”

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SNP WARN OVER TORY CUT TO CRISIS LOANS

RULE CHANGE WILL PUNISH POOREST

SNP Work and Pension spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford MP has expressed concern at an announcement by the UK Government, that it is to cut the level and availability of Social Fund Crisis Loans, warning that the decision would force people on low incomes towards high cost or illegal lending.

In a Written Statement published today (Thursday), the UK Government announced that it will no longer pay Crisis Loans for items such as cookers and beds; the rate paid for living expenses will be cut from
75 per cent down to 60 per cent of benefit rate; and the government will implement a cap of three Crisis Loan awards for general living expenses in a rolling twelve month period. In the last 12 months alone, over 17,000 people received ten or more Crisis Loans.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“By their nature crisis loans are a last resort, and it is appalling that the Tory Government are cutting this safety net for the very poorest people in our society. The only winners from this will be loan sharks and high interest lenders.

“The fact that so many people have had to take out these loans should underline the difficulties that households are facing, but instead of trying to help the UK Government are making things much more painful.

“These are loans that people pay back, so these cuts don’t really save money. This is a cruel cut that will force people who are in crisis to take out high interest loans or to go to loan sharks.”

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WHITEFORD CHALLENGES PENSIONS MINISTER IN COMMONS

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford has challenged Minister of State for Pensions Steve Webb over an anomaly in the UK Government’s proposals to increase the state pension age for women.

The SNP MP was speaking earlier today during Department for Work & Pensions Questions in the House of Commons following contact from a number of constituents who find themselves disadvantaged as a result of the planned changes.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

“There are a significant number of women already past their mid-50s who have no time to make up for the lost pension income they will have been expecting as a result of the UK Government’s proposals to increase the state pension age for women to 66 by 2020. This will have unfair and disproportionate consequences for those affected.

“Many women have made financial and other plans on the basis that they were previously told that their retirement age of 60 would increase to 63 or 64. Now they are being told it will rise faster and to age 66.

“In the worst cases, some women will now find they have to wait two more years for their state pension which means they simply do not have time to make arrangements to offset the financial shortfall they will receive.

“The Minister’s response today was inadequate and demonstrated a lack of compassion for those who have worked hard, paid their stamp and are looking forward to retirement. I will continue to press the case for my constituents who are affected.”

Extract from Hansard follows:

Steve Webb (Minister of State for Pensions): Of the 2.6 million women who are affected, 33,000 were born [in 1954]. That group will have to delay for up to two years before they receive their state pension. One reassurance I can offer is that those women will be eligible to apply for jobseeker’s allowance or employment and support allowance, so they will not be left destitute.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): The Turner Commission recommended a 15-year lead-in for such changes. Those women who were born in 1954 will not benefit from that. Does the Minister think that fair?

Steve Webb (Minister of State for Pensions): The hon. Lady raises the important point that notice periods are important. The challenge we faced was that the time scale for raising state pension ages that we inherited was staggeringly leisurely. The Conservative party manifesto and the coalition agreement made it clear that we would move faster. The state pension age for men was set at 65 a century ago—I think we need to move faster.

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