Fair pay for a fair day's work

Commenting on David Cameron’s new proposals for Job Seeker’s Allowance, SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“David Cameron seems intent on punishing young unemployed people when we need fair pay for a fair day’s work.

“In Scotland, the Scottish Government offers much more to our young people such as the Opportunities for All programme which offers a place in work, training or education for every 16-19 year old with over 25,000 Modern apprenticeships each year. We are offering real opportunities to our young people and as a result, youth unemployment is at the lowest level for five years, and record numbers are finding positive destinations after leaving school.

“But the Scottish Government could do even more to help young people if the powers over employment policy were devolved, as promised by the Smith Commission. A vote for the SNP in May will strength Scotland's hand at Westminster, and help us improve the prospects of our young people.”

Scottish Government's Opportunities for All programme
© Crown Copyright 2015

Read more...

Rollout of Universal Credit Shows Westminster is Failing to Listen

As the rollout of Universal Credit begins at 150 jobcentres across the UK, the Westminster Government has been accused of a complete failure to listen.

Numerous welfare organisations have called for the rollout of Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments to be halted until plans to devolve some welfare powers to Scotland are carried out.

Last month, 56 charity organisations in Scotland wrote to Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith calling for the rollout of Universal Credit to be halted until the process of legislating for new welfare powers for Scotland is completed.

Despite these calls, the rollout of Universal Credit has continued with 150 job centres moving over to the benefit from today (Monday).

Commenting, SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“As the rollout of Universal Credit steps up a gear today, the Westminster Government has once again shown that it is completely incapable of listening.

“Extensive evidence has been put forward by charity organisations from across Scotland that the rollout should be stopped while powers are transferred, but Iain Duncan Smith refuses to act.

“With charity organisations on the front line of dealing with Westminster’s welfare cuts simply being ignored, it is clearer than ever that Westminster cannot be trusted to make decisions over welfare on Scotland’s behalf.

“Of course the fact is that the current proposals for welfare devolution go nowhere near far enough and leave far too much control in the hands of Westminster.

“Electing a strong team of SNP MPs in May will ensure that Scotland’s voice cannot be ignored, and use our clout in a hung parliament to gain the welfare responsibilities we need to build a fairer society."

Read more...

Eilidh Whiteford defends the NHS for Banff and Buchan

Read more...

Labour Plans Don't Address Real Problems

TORY/LABOUR AUSTERITY HURTING BUT NOT WORKING
Following an opposition day debate in the House of Commons on plans for a Jobs Guarantee, it has become clear that both Westminster parties are still wedded to the austerity agenda and are failing to address the underlying causes of long term unemployment in the economy. Both Labour and Tories are pledged to another £30 billion worth of cuts which have already had a disproportionate effect on the most disadvantaged in our society. The influential Institute of Fiscal Studies has suggested that there are huge cuts still to come following the election, further hitting communities and families suffering from Westminster’s austerity agenda.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP, SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson commented:

“We will support any measures aimed at tackling long term unemployment, but what is being proposed by the Labour party won’t fully address the underlying causes of long term unemployment, and will leave young people languishing on JSA for a year before they get the offer of a job. It is really important that we intervene earlier, as all the evidence suggests that earlier interventions are much more effective.”

“In response to youth unemployment in the wake of the financial crash, the Scottish Government introduced the ‘Opportunities for All’ scheme, which offers every 16-19 year old a place in work, education or training. Take up of that scheme has been overwhelming: record levels of school leavers - over 92 percent - now have a positive destination on leaving school. And more importantly, those positive destinations are sustained for 90 percent of school leavers. The number of young people not in education, training or employment is now at its lowest level since before the financial crash, and has decreased across every local authority area. It’s a good example of the Scottish Government working in partnership with local authorities, schools, colleges and employers, empowering them to deliver opportunities for our young people.

“The Smith Commission recommended that the full powers of Employment Support be devolved to the Scottish Parliament. In May we need a strong team of SNP MPs elected to Westminster to make the case for the ‘extensive’ new powers we were promised – and put an end to the Labour and Tory economic alliance on austerity – which we know is just not working for communities across Scotland.”

Read more...