TORY backsliding will stop the Scottish Government from scrapping the controversial bedroom tax until at least May 2020, it is claimed.
The SNP committed to ending the benefit cut as part of its manifesto.
Under the plan, the Scottish Government was to make changes to Universal Credit payments from spring next year.
But Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has pushed this back until 2020 “at the earliest”.
She said: “Last year we came to an agreement with DWP that would enable us to end the bedroom tax through Universal Credit, meaning that no one would be penalised as a result of the positive moves we are taking in Scotland. It is now extremely disappointing that the DWP has put the brakes on this decision, delaying the necessary changes to the Universal Credit system until May 2020 at the earliest.
“This is yet another example of the UK Government going back on agreements in place to the detriment of those already finding it hard to get by.”
According to the Scottish Government, as many as 70,000 households are currently affected by the bedroom tax.
Eight in ten of this group includes someone with disabilities.
At present, Holyrood uses discretionary housing payments to mitigate the support cut at a cost of £50 million a year, but this can only be done when eligible households make an application.
The DWP was expected to devolve responsibility for the housing element of Universal Credit to the Scottish Parliament from next spring, allowing officials to stop the penalties.
However, the Westminster department says this date was never confirmed and more work must be done before the change is put in place. A spokesperson said: “The changes we are introducing to facilitate transition on to Universal Credit and address concerns around the first payment period have been agreed in the UK Parliament.
“These measures will make a positive difference for Universal Credit claimants across Scotland and the rest of the UK and must be our priority.
“We continue to work constructively with the Scottish Government on this and have been very clear throughout that the potential date of 2019 was subject to detailed feasibility.”
The statement comes after the Scottish Government released a letter from Constance to UK Secretary of Work and Pensions Esther McVey.
It was sent last month in the days after Neil Couling, director general of Universal Credit, advised officials of the delay.
Constance wrote: “Abolishing the bedroom tax is an important manifesto commitment and a pledge the Scottish Government has repeatedly made in successive programmes for Government.
“I am therefore disappointed and surprised to learn that your department has not ringfenced our changes to be implemented in 2019 or allocated any dedicated resources to deliver this commitment.
“We have, it appears to me, been essentially re-prioritised in a queue of existing and new work, much of which would appear to post-date the Scottish Government’s policy. “
Calling for the DWP to take “active steps” on the matter, the MSP for Almond Valley went on: “While I do accept that your department will have many priorities, the transfer of these powers from the UK to the Scottish Parliament is a commitment made by politicians from all parties and now law under the Scotland Act 2016.
“I am becoming increasingly concerned that your department is not consistent in displaying either the willingness nor urgency to deliver on what is very much a joint programme of activity over the coming years.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel