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| Scotland Bill will give benefit 'top up' powers, says Mundell | Scotland Bill will give benefit 'top up' powers, says Mundell |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Scottish government will be able to "top up" tax credits and child benefit payments as part of new powers coming to Holyrood, David Mundell has said. | The Scottish government will be able to "top up" tax credits and child benefit payments as part of new powers coming to Holyrood, David Mundell has said. |
| The Scottish Secretary said the Scotland Bill, currently going through Westminster, would be a "game-changer" ushering in a "new era of devolution". | The Scottish Secretary said the Scotland Bill, currently going through Westminster, would be a "game-changer" ushering in a "new era of devolution". |
| The SNP is launching a paper on how new welfare powers should be used. | The SNP is launching a paper on how new welfare powers should be used. |
| Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said his party would not "take an approach that punishes the vulnerable". | Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said his party would not "take an approach that punishes the vulnerable". |
| As part of the Scotland Bill, MSPs at Holyrood will be be able to set income tax rates and bands and will also get new powers over welfare. | As part of the Scotland Bill, MSPs at Holyrood will be be able to set income tax rates and bands and will also get new powers over welfare. |
| Last week Mr Mundell said the UK government was keen to see the new powers transferred earlier than planned - by April 2017. | Last week Mr Mundell said the UK government was keen to see the new powers transferred earlier than planned - by April 2017. |
| The Scottish government has said the new legislation does not go far enough and has warned it will not recommend MSPs approve the legislation if it believes the funding arrangements linked to the bill are unfair. | The Scottish government has said the new legislation does not go far enough and has warned it will not recommend MSPs approve the legislation if it believes the funding arrangements linked to the bill are unfair. |
| The SNP has also been critical of UK Government plans to cut tax credits for working families. | The SNP has also been critical of UK Government plans to cut tax credits for working families. |
| Talks between the two governments on the welfare proposals are due to take place later. | Talks between the two governments on the welfare proposals are due to take place later. |
| Ahead of the discussions, the Scottish Secretary called on Holyrood ministers to set out both how they would use new welfare powers and how they would pay for any changes. | Ahead of the discussions, the Scottish Secretary called on Holyrood ministers to set out both how they would use new welfare powers and how they would pay for any changes. |
| He said: "Scottish government ministers will be able to design a significant part of Scotland's welfare system and control income tax to pay for it. | |
| "If they want to top up existing benefits, they will be able to. If they want to introduce payments to those in short-term need or design new benefits in those welfare areas being devolved that will also be an option available to them. | "If they want to top up existing benefits, they will be able to. If they want to introduce payments to those in short-term need or design new benefits in those welfare areas being devolved that will also be an option available to them. |
| "Powers in the Scotland Bill ensure Scottish Parliament will have the means to pay for any changes, but it will have to justify them to the public, as under the new arrangements, income tax raised in Scotland will stay in Scotland and be spent in Scotland." | "Powers in the Scotland Bill ensure Scottish Parliament will have the means to pay for any changes, but it will have to justify them to the public, as under the new arrangements, income tax raised in Scotland will stay in Scotland and be spent in Scotland." |
| 'Fair and efficient' | 'Fair and efficient' |
| Scotland's Social Justice Secretary Mr Neil said any new system set up following the transfer of welfare powers to Holyrood would "have at its heart a set of principles and values." | |
| The SNP will ensure "people are treated with respect and dignity when applying for, being assessed for, and receiving disability-related benefits," he stated. | The SNP will ensure "people are treated with respect and dignity when applying for, being assessed for, and receiving disability-related benefits," he stated. |
| Mr Neil said his party's approach would focus on "fairness, accessibility and stability". | Mr Neil said his party's approach would focus on "fairness, accessibility and stability". |
| Scottish ministers will publish a further paper by the end of the year setting out their outline vision for social security in Scotland. | Scottish ministers will publish a further paper by the end of the year setting out their outline vision for social security in Scotland. |
| Mr Neil added: "It is also important that the system is fair and efficient - that the investment we all make in social security is well managed and is directed at the people who need it, in the way that will support them best. | Mr Neil added: "It is also important that the system is fair and efficient - that the investment we all make in social security is well managed and is directed at the people who need it, in the way that will support them best. |
| Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: "I want the Scottish government to have the power to create new benefits, to protect the vulnerable from Tory cuts and to raise all the money it needs for public services." | Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: "I want the Scottish government to have the power to create new benefits, to protect the vulnerable from Tory cuts and to raise all the money it needs for public services." |
| "It is time for the politics to stop and for the SNP Government to get on with using powers now." | "It is time for the politics to stop and for the SNP Government to get on with using powers now." |