Question reference: S6W-00987
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 22 June 2021
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Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 7 July 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding reported plans to reduce universal credit payments by £1,040 a year, in light of concerns that this may lead to a return to austerity.
Answer
The Scottish Government has written to the UK Government on six occasions in order to urge them to retain the £20-per-week uplift to Universal Credit, and also extend it to people on legacy benefits, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance.
The Scottish Government also published analysis in June , showing that if the UK Government proceeds with their plan to withdraw the £20-per-week uplift to Universal Credit in September it could cut social security payments in Scotland by over £460 million per year by 2023-24.