Impact of Universal Credit on Aberdeen City Council Tenants

That the Parliament notes with concern figures from a recent Aberdeen City Council Operational Delivery Committee report, which it believes highlights the worrying impact of Universal Credit on council tenant rent arrears; understands that, since the introduction of Universal Credit in Aberdeen in October 2018, rent arrears have projected to have risen by nearly £1,750,000 in 2019-20 compared to 2018-19, with total gross rent arrears amounting to £7,489,041; further understands that the report has attributed this rise to the impact of Universal Credit, particularly with individuals and families falling into technical arrears due to the four weekly-payment method; notes that Aberdeen City Council has had to appoint additional housing officers to try and provide support to people affected by this benefit; considers that the shocking impact Universal Credit has had on the significant rise in foodbank usage in Aberdeen, and the forcing of women into participating in “survival sex” in order to meet basic needs of daily living, has been regularly reported, and calls on the UK Government to either scrap what it sees as this dehumanising benefit or devolve it to the Scottish Parliament.