At one time or another in life, most people need a measure of welfare assistance, and wemust strive to build a Scotland with a dynamic economy which can support decent levels ofsocial provision. Unlike both the Tories and Labour, the SNP's policies will not attack themost vulnerable in society, or target soft options as scapegoats in cheap money-savinggimmicks. The social security budget must be reduced by creating real jobs and prosperity,not an underclass.
By creating a thriving economy, we can increase social welfare payments and reduce thenumbers needing help in Scotland. Economic consultants have forecast that, in the firstfour years of Independence, the SNP's economic programme would generate 116,000 jobs. Andfor every new job that is created, the Exchequer gains £9,000 through saved benefits andincreased taxes.
Under seventeen years of Tory misrule, the gap between rich and poor has increased andincome inequality in the UK is growing faster than in virtually any other developed country.In 1979, 14% of the population were living on or below the supplementary benefit level. Interms of Income Support, that figure has now increased to a massive 24%.
The number of unemployed 16 and 17 year olds without an income has increased by 24% over thelast year alone, meaning that 85% of such people have no source of income. We are also farbehind our partners in Europe in terms of pensions and child benefit, with benefit levelsfalling in relation to average earnings.
But instead of presenting an alternative to this decline, New Labour under Tony Blair haveshifted so far to the right that they have taken on the mantle of old Tories. New Labour'sdesperate bid for the votes of 'Middle England' has ensured that their so-called 'hardchoices' have been targeted at the soft option of the most vulnerable in society. Labourhave no plans to restore benefits to 16 and 17 year olds, and their plan to scrap ChildBenefit for 16-18 year olds means that these young people would have no benefit entitlementeither inside or outside the home.
An SNP government would undertake a medium term review of the structure of social securityin Scotland, which among other things would review the relationship between benefits andtaxation. But within the context of a priority programme for the first four years ofIndependence, the SNP propose targeted assistance to deal with the plight of pensioners,young people, and low income families, which would tackle major problems such as fuelpoverty.
Over four years, the total cost of our measures would be £1.7 billion, which would be paidfor out of the £6.3 billion in extra revenues which the SNP's dynamic programme wouldgenerate. The SNP's goal is the elimination of poverty, but we can only achieve what is'Best for Scotland' in social welfare by securing the powers of Independence.
Kay Ullrich
Social Policy Spokesperson
Scottish National Party
If you would like to know more about the SNP and HELP SCOTLAND contact snp.hq@snp.org.uk or visit the official the Scottish National Party web site.
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