Dumfries and Galloway’s Communities Committee has today condemned the UK Government’s Welfare Policy in particular their handling of the implementation of Universal Credit.
It came after a report of Universal Credit was taken at the Committee and Councillor Adam Wilson moved that a further recommendation take which was to, “condemn the UK Government’s Welfare Policy, in particular their handling of the roll out of Universal Credit.”
Today at the Committee members heard that the roll out of Universal Credit will now take place across Dumfries and Galloway in May 2018. The original date for implementation was February 2018. Members were also made aware that the 6 week waiting time for the first payment after application had been reduced to 5 weeks.
However, the Committee was disappointed to learn that no reply had been received to a letter sent to the Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell detailing concerns that Dumfries and Galloway Council has over the roll out of Universal Credit.
Speaking after the Committee Councillor Adam Wilson said, “Universal Credit has been nothing but a shambles, the UK Government has shown no leadership and no control in implementing their flagship welfare policy. The implementation of Universal Credit will have a devastating impact on our most vulnerable people here in Dumfries and Galloway. We only need to look at Universal Credit implementation in East Lothian and the Highlands to see how our most vulnerable people suffer.
Today at Communities Committee I was delighted that my additional recommendations were supported. However, these are just words. Councillors must do all they can to stand up against a Government that shows little compassion towards our poorest and most vulnerable people.
While I welcome the removal of the seven waiting days at the start of a Universal Credit application, and the delay in implementing Universal Credit in Dumfries and Galloway the best outcome for vulnerable people living here would be the scrapping of Universal Credit.”
