Extra cash to deal with child poverty
A charity has pledged £100,000 for advice services
Last updated 22nd Jun 2018
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has announced an £100,000 increase in funding to tackle child poverty. The extra money will enable the group to provide more advice services to those struggling.
Equalities Secretary Angela Constance said the introduction of Universal Credit has had a damaging impact on people.
At CPAG's annual conference on welfare rights at the University of Strathclyde on Friday, she said: "I am pleased to announce an increase of £100,000 in the funding we provide to CPAG, to enable them to increase their advice services.
"These have faced a rise in demand, particularly in relation to the roll out of Universal Credit and the damaging impact it is having on people across the country.
"This builds on the important work they undertake to provide training and support with complex cases - having supported more than 470 organisations during the last year alone.
"This work is especially important given that just a week ago, the National Audit Office's Rolling Out Universal Credit report provided more damning evidence that Universal Credit is failing, and causing increased debt, rent arrears and anxiety for many people across the UK.''
Ms Constance said she had written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, calling for the roll out of Universal Credit to be halted until "fundamental flaws'' can be fixed.
She added: "We have now written to the UK Government six times in two years highlighting our grave concerns around Universal Credit - it is high time that they listen to what we are saying.''
A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: "The NAO report failed to take into account the impact of the significant improvements we have made which include abolishing waiting days, making 100% advance payments available from day one, and introducing two weeks additional housing cost support for people joining UC from Housing Benefit.
"Claimants receive tailored support from their work coach and analysis shows that those who are in work and claiming Universal Credit are better off by £600 a year.
"We remain committed to working with the Scottish Government to ensure a smooth transition of the remaining devolved responsibilities and have already delivered on many aspects of the Scotland Act and on the flexibilities in Universal Credit payments.
"Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has significant powers over social security to both raise taxes and top up any reserved benefit."