Senior SNP minister refuses to rule out benefit cuts in Scotland after UK welfare changes
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville could not confirm whether Scots on disability benefits would have their payments reduced.
A senior SNP minister has refused to rule out benefit cuts in Scotland as the UK Government publishes its plans to slash welfare today.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville could not confirm whether Scots on disability benefits would have their payments reduced.
The UK Government introduces a bill on cutting Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to the House of Commons this afternoon.
Although most Scots are on the devolved Adult Disability Payment (ADP) rather than PIP, the cuts are likely to mean Scotland has less money for welfare.
When asked what impact would it have on the Scottish Government's budget, Somerville told BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We are very concerned about the UK Government's proposals...
"While the UK Government may be intending to make those decisions affecting people in the rest of the UK, we will have to look very carefully at that and see the details of that.
"I'll be responding later today about what the Scottish Government can do.
"But what I want to do today is reassure disabled people that we will not abandon them in the same way that the UK Government appears to be doing."
When asked if she would have to reduce ADP, Somerville replied: "I want to see the details because I have still not given up hope that the UK Government will see sense and see the moral obligation of a government to actually be there to protect disabled people, to support disabled people and their carers."
When pressed further, Somerville said: "I'll see what the details are later on today as the UK Government does not give us any details on these things before they make these proposals public.
"We have seen some signs of some softening over the weekend, although not a great d e al. But I intend to make our decisions public later today once I see the details of it.
"Because I do not want people in Scotland to be concerned, and worried, and anxious about what will happen to them, so we will respond very quickly to this."
When asked if she could rule out cuts, Somerville replied: "Let's see the details of it. I really hope the UK Government will change track on this."
A significantly higher rate of people are on disability benefits in Scotland than south of the border.
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