Responding to Welfare Reform

As an amendment to motion S4M-09209 in the name of Margaret Burgess (Responding to Welfare Reform), leave out from first “is concerned” to end and insert “recognises the vital importance of welfare reform and its particular relevance in Scotland; notes that welfare budgets continue to rise in response to need; deplores the actions of the Scottish Government in appearing to promise a radically more generous welfare system in a separate Scotland without setting out any detail of the tax and budgetary implications; further recognises the difficulties being experienced by the tens of thousands of Scottish households that have been assessed as overcrowded and in need of rehousing but have had their needs ignored in hysteria over housing benefit changes; draws attention to the fact that it was the previous Labour administration that implemented the policy whereby tens of thousands of housing benefit claimants in the private rented sector have to make up shortfalls in rent when their properties do not meet the housing benefit size criteria; praises the vital work of Scotland's foodbanks, but deplores those who seek to turn them into a political tool at the expense of those who are in receipt of their invaluable support.”