1 Jun 2018
Planned spending on welfare in Scotland is set to soar by an extra £68 million following revisions by the Scottish Fiscal Commission.
It was revealed yesterday that public services are already facing a £1.7 billion hit after the SNP was forced to concede it will collect less in taxation than it previously though.
Now it has emerged, as well as reduced tax intake, social security spending is set to rise.
The SFC data shows, between 2019-20 and 2022-23, an additional £68 million will need to be set aside for newly devolved welfare payments.
That’s significantly higher than the forecast set out in December, meaning by 2022/23 the total devolved welfare bill will be £498 million a year.
The Scottish Conservatives said this was more evidence of the SNP’s drive to have a high-welfare, high tax economy, low-wage economy.
And shadow social security secretary Michelle Ballantyne urged ministers to develop a benefits plan which helped people back into work, rather than trap them on welfare.
The SNP’s economic approach has been severely criticised, with the new forecasts meaning schools, hospitals and infrastructure will almost certainly have to suffer financially.
Scottish Conservative shadow social security secretary Michelle Ballantyne said:
“The SNP needs to design a benefits system which helps those who need it the most, and acts as a springboard for people to get in to work whenever possible.
“Instead, both Labour and the SNP seem to treat welfare as an inevitable trap.
“The consequence of a benefits bill our economy can’t afford will see the most vulnerable in our society suffering the most.
“With the new powers coming to Holyrood, the SNP are about to find out just how difficult it is to deliver a welfare system that’s fair and sustainable.
“These figures show that under the nationalists we are set to have an economy based on high welfare spending, increasing personal taxes and low wages.
“That will only harm growth and productivity, and do nothing to encourage prosperity for all.”
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