Russell Findlay has challenged John Swinney over Scotland’s benefits spending, arguing at First Minister’s Questions that the government must either reduce expenditure or risk further tax rises.
The Scottish Conservative leader used FMQs on Thursday 1 October to press the First Minister on tax and benefits, while Swinney defended a social security system based on “dignity, fairness and respect” and said decisions would be set out through the budget process.
Findlay argued that reducing benefits spending should form part of the response to pressures facing Scotland’s public finances and presented the issue as a choice between spending reductions and higher taxation.
He also referred to comments from Social Justice Secretary Shirley Anne Somerville about tackling poverty through employment and skills as well as social security, arguing that the government’s wider approach remained too reliant on benefits.
The exchange then turned to allegations Findlay said had been made to him by a whistleblower who had spent two decades advising people about benefits.
Findlay told Parliament that the whistleblower had alleged being instructed to support applicants who had admitted claims were false and had witnessed colleagues coaching people on how to abuse the system.
Those allegations were presented by Findlay at FMQs, but no supporting evidence was produced during the exchange and Swinney told Parliament that he did not know their “source or substance”.
Findlay said:
“John Swinney’s out-of-control benefits bill must be cut.
“If it’s not, then the SNP will yet again punish Scottish taxpayers.
“Reducing benefits should be the starting point for Swinney if he’s serious about the looming £5billion black-hole in Scotland’s finances.
“Andy Burnham’s plans to water down the triple lock is a rare point of agreement with the First Minister, but unlike Swinney we know where savings will be made.
“He has a clear choice between cutting benefits or raising taxes.
“It’s that simple.”
Swinney rejected Findlay’s characterisation of the government’s approach and said Scotland’s child poverty delivery plan combined social security with investment in employability, skills, childcare and support with housing and transport costs.
The First Minister also accused Findlay of targeting vulnerable people through his criticism of benefits spending.
Findlay continued:
“Even his own social justice secretary recognises the Conservative principle that the best way to address poverty is through skills and employment, not benefits.
“A whistleblower has laid bare numerous examples of rampant abuse within Scotland’s benefits system.
“Stories of advisers being told to support applicants even if their claims are false, or advisers telling claimants how to abuse the system.
“John Swinney says the SNP social security system is one of dignity, fairness and respect when it is actually unsustainable, unaffordable and unfair.”
The Scottish Government’s latest fiscal reporting confirms that devolved social security represents a significant call on the Scottish Budget, although the political dispute is over both the appropriate level of support and how that expenditure should be funded.
With the next Scottish Budget still to come, the FMQs exchange exposed a clear dividing line over whether reducing social security spending should form part of the response to the pressures facing Scotland’s finances.
