Chancellor refuses comment on rape clause fairness

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

The two-child benefit cap, which came into effect in 2017, prevents households claiming child tax credit or universal credit from receiving support for a third or subsequent child born after 6 April that year.
The so-called rape clause is the exemption within it for families in which the third child was conceived non-consensually.
To claim that exemption, mothers must demonstrate eligibility by securing certification from approved third-party professionals such as health and social care practitioners.
The Scottish Government has already announced it will put an end to the cap in March 2026 - weeks before the Holyrood election.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer was quizzed on the policy during a visit to Rolls Royce in Inchinnan today.
Asked by The Herald if she will do anything to tackle questions of fairness around the rape clause, the Chancellor said: 'We are going to be publishing the Child Poverty Strategy in the Autumn and so I'm not going to comment on what we might do in the budget later this year.
'Everyone can see that the financial position that we face is a challenging one with the trade uncertainty around the world, the higher costs of government borrowing.'
READ MORE:
Two-child benefit cap to end in Scotland from March 2026
The so-called rape clause is unworkable — here's the proof
Pushed on whether or not she believed the policy was fair, Ms Reeves said: 'We will set out our policy around child poverty in the Autumn but we are already taking action.
"Free school meals being rolled out to primary schools in England and Wales and then that feeding through to the Barnett Settlement in Scotland, the biggest settlement since devolution.'
As part of a series in child poverty, The Herald heard from Children's charity Aberlour who warned that poverty levels will become unbearable if the cap is maintained.
A recent study from University of Edinburgh's Dr Rebecca Hewer found health professionals tasked with approving the 'non-consensual conception' exemption lacked the training, clarity and confidence required.
This has left survivors having to navigate a potentially traumatising and inconsistent system with little support, the report finds.
The report concluded that the rape clause is unworkable and calls for its urgent repeal.