Lothians MSP Jeremy Balfour has called on the SNP to take responsibility over the control of disability benefits.
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP made the call after the SNP Government failed to mention any future timetable to roll out future welfare payments in Scotland.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK Government agreed to continue paying disability benefits following the SNP’s request to delay the transfer of power over these benefits to Holyrood.
However, now Mr Balfour says SNP Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Sommerville needs to step up to the mark, with some welfare payments not expected to be taken on by the SNP until 2024.
Mr Balfour, who convenes the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Disability, says vulnerable people deserve to know if the SNP are going to take control of benefits, including Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance.
Commenting, Jeremy Balfour MSP said:
“The SNP continually talk about wanting to create a better welfare system in Scotland, but the reality is that they haven’t taken the responsibility for doing so.
“It was understandable during the Covid-19 pandemic that transfer of benefits was delayed and it showed the benefits of the UK and Scottish Government’s working together.
“However, it is astonishingly remiss of the SNP to fail to mention any sort of timetable for rolling out new benefits in their Programme for Government.
“It is time for the SNP to take responsibility on creating better benefits for disabled people but they have proven they have no real plans to urgently put this into policy.
“Social Security Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, needs to outline the SNP’s plans and start the transfer process quickly.”