EDM: Reductions in welfare spending

Reductions in welfare spending

Tabled by Siân Berry (Green Party) 29 signatures

The motion

That this House believes that the welfare system should be based on dignity and respect; further believes that years of damaging austerity inflicted upon public services and welfare provision by previous Conservative Governments has brought our communities to breaking point, with people in receipt of health-related benefits already facing inordinate hardships as a result; notes that the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has called on the UK Government to take corrective measures to address the immense negative impact of welfare cuts made since 2010; is concerned that 50 per cent of people claiming Universal Credit who have limited capability for work are unable to heat their homes or pay their bills and have low food security; is further concerned that, according to Scope, an added 700,000 disabled households will be pushed into poverty by the cuts rumoured to be set out in the forthcoming Green Paper on welfare reform; considers there is no moral case for making these cuts, the impact of which would be catastrophic for millions of disabled people; calls on the Government to address the root issues that lead to welfare claims, namely housing insecurity, poor quality jobs, huge wage inequality and a soaring mental health crisis; and further calls on the Government not to scapegoat disabled people by cutting the welfare payments on which they depend.

Signatories (29)