This was the Herald's headline to a report on the Scottish
Parliament's debate on welfare reform yesterday - over two hours with
118 of the 129 MSPs voting. The Scotsman took the line of the
supporters of the UK Coalition: 'Holyrood's defiance could deprive
needy of benefits, SNP told' (links to debate and the two papers far
below).
The Daily Record echoed rejection in its headline but provided the
longest report and I think the most useful with its opening sentence:
THE Scottish Parliament has refused to rubber-stamp controversial
benefit changes linked to Iain Duncan Smith's welfare reform programme.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics-news/2011/12/22/snp-and-
labour-msps-unite-as-scottish-parliament-reject-westminster-plans-for-
welfare-reform-86908-23653897/
It is the first time that a legislative consent motion to Westminster
legislation has not been passed by the Scottish parliament, but the
basic welfare reforms going through the UK parliament will continue.
What are likely to be affected by the partial refusal of consent are
the areas which are or will be within the Scottish jurisdiction such
as free school meals, passported benefits, disabled parking and
devolved council tax benefit. How much money and where it will come
from are questions to be argued over. An ad hoc welfare committee
will be set up to take this further.
The debate indicated the degree of dissatisfaction with the proposed
reforms, and much use was made of material provided by third sector
and pressure groups.
Best wishes - and warm seasonal greetings, yours, Adrian
The amended motion below was agreed to without a vote.
'That the Parliament supports the principle of a welfare system that
is simpler, makes work pay and lifts people out of poverty but
regrets that this principle, insofar as it is reflected by the
introduction of universal credit and personal independence payments,
is being undermined by the UK Government’s deep and damaging cuts to
benefits and services that will impact on some of the most vulnerable
people in Scotland; on the matter of legislative consent, agrees that
the relevant provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill, introduced in the
House of Commons on 16 February 2011, in respect of data sharing,
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and the Social Mobility and
Child Poverty Commission, so far as these matters fall within the
legislative competence of the Parliament, or alter the executive
competence of the Scottish Ministers, should be considered by the UK
Parliament; further agrees that the provisions in the Bill that give
the Scottish Ministers the power to make consequential,
supplementary, incidental or transitional provisions, by regulations,
in relation to the introduction of universal credit and personal
independence payments, so far as these matters fall within the
legislative competence of the Parliament, or alter the executive
competence of the Scottish Ministers, should not be considered by the
UK Parliament but that the necessary provision should be made instead
by an Act of the Scottish Parliament; also agrees that an ad-hoc
welfare committee should be convened with a remit to consider the
implementation of the Welfare Reform Bill insofar as it affects
people in Scotland, in particular the impact on passported benefits
and, where benefits are devolved, the principles and operation of
these, complementing the work of other relevant committees in the
Scottish Parliament, UK Parliament and devolved assemblies across the
UK and that this committee should continue to meet for the duration
of the current parliamentary session; while agreeing the above
position, urges the UK Government to reconsider the Welfare Reform
Bill and, more broadly, its welfare reform agenda, which the
Parliament considers will adversely affect vulnerable people across
Scotland.'
The link to the full debate follows. If you want details of votes on
the amendments, click on 'Decision Time' at the very end.
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?
r=6647&i=60537&c=1255425&s=welfare%20reform
The Herald coverage http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-
news/msps-reject-uk-welfare-reforms.1324609482
The Scotsman http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/
holyrood_s_defiance_could_deprive_needy_of_benefits_snp_told_1_2022326
Adrian Sinfield
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