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| Report calls for minimum income guarantee pilot in Scotland | Report calls for minimum income guarantee pilot in Scotland |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The report said a minimum income guarantee would help secure a dignified quality of life for all | The report said a minimum income guarantee would help secure a dignified quality of life for all |
| A minimum income guarantee could be piloted in Scotland following next year's Holyrood elections. | A minimum income guarantee could be piloted in Scotland following next year's Holyrood elections. |
| The policy would establish an income level below which nobody is allowed to fall, via reform to social security, work and services. | The policy would establish an income level below which nobody is allowed to fall, via reform to social security, work and services. |
| A new report for the Scottish government said the guarantee would help provide a dignified quality of life, deliver financial security, and unlock opportunities for everyone in the country. | A new report for the Scottish government said the guarantee would help provide a dignified quality of life, deliver financial security, and unlock opportunities for everyone in the country. |
| The group of charities, campaigners and academics also recommended doubling the Scottish child payment to £55 per week by 2031 while also effectively ending sanctions in the welfare system. | The group of charities, campaigners and academics also recommended doubling the Scottish child payment to £55 per week by 2031 while also effectively ending sanctions in the welfare system. |
| An interim minimum income payment could be established by 2036, in line with the relative poverty level, according to the group - commissioned by ministers and chaired by Russell Gunson from the Robertson Trust grant-maker. | An interim minimum income payment could be established by 2036, in line with the relative poverty level, according to the group - commissioned by ministers and chaired by Russell Gunson from the Robertson Trust grant-maker. |
| Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish government would consider the group's report and respond in due course. | |
| The group said the proposal would help build security for an aging population | The group said the proposal would help build security for an aging population |
| Some of the group's welfare changes would cost £671m per year by 2030/31, in today's prices. | Some of the group's welfare changes would cost £671m per year by 2030/31, in today's prices. |
| However the group said these would require just over £300m of additional spending if the UK government scraps the two-child limit and ends the five-week wait for universal credit. | However the group said these would require just over £300m of additional spending if the UK government scraps the two-child limit and ends the five-week wait for universal credit. |
| The Scottish Conservatives described the policy as "bizarre and unaffordable" due to the costs. | The Scottish Conservatives described the policy as "bizarre and unaffordable" due to the costs. |
| But Mr Gunson said the guarantee could be transformative if it was implemented. | But Mr Gunson said the guarantee could be transformative if it was implemented. |
| He added: "Given the levels of poverty and inequality we see, we must act urgently. | He added: "Given the levels of poverty and inequality we see, we must act urgently. |
| "With technological change and an ageing population, we need to build security for all to make sure we can take the economic opportunities in front of Scotland. | "With technological change and an ageing population, we need to build security for all to make sure we can take the economic opportunities in front of Scotland. |
| "A minimum income guarantee could future-proof Scotland." | "A minimum income guarantee could future-proof Scotland." |
| He stated that the first step in the report were affordable with immediate effect. | He stated that the first step in the report were affordable with immediate effect. |
| Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy called the proposal 'bizarre' | Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy called the proposal 'bizarre' |
| Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy said the proposal would see Scottish workers saddling the cost. | Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy said the proposal would see Scottish workers saddling the cost. |
| He said: "The SNP have made no serious attempt to rein in wasteful public spending and a soaring welfare bill. | He said: "The SNP have made no serious attempt to rein in wasteful public spending and a soaring welfare bill. |
| "Now this report shows that a minimum income guarantee would cost billions - when Scottish taxpayers are already footing the bill for spending that is simply unsustainable and unaffordable." | "Now this report shows that a minimum income guarantee would cost billions - when Scottish taxpayers are already footing the bill for spending that is simply unsustainable and unaffordable." |
| Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish government is already trying to take action in a number of areas highlighted by the group's report, citing plans to end the universal credit two-child limit next year. | |
| However she added there would be no change to tax policy to help finance any guarantee. | However she added there would be no change to tax policy to help finance any guarantee. |
| She stated: "The Scottish government is of course committed to ensuring that finances remain on a sustainable trajectory. | She stated: "The Scottish government is of course committed to ensuring that finances remain on a sustainable trajectory. |
| "We will continue to take forward our programme of work for doing this, which will be updated in the next Medium-Term Financial Strategy to be published later this month, alongside our fiscal sustainability delivery plan. | "We will continue to take forward our programme of work for doing this, which will be updated in the next Medium-Term Financial Strategy to be published later this month, alongside our fiscal sustainability delivery plan. |
| "We have no plans to change tax policy in Scotland to finance a minimum income guarantee." | "We have no plans to change tax policy in Scotland to finance a minimum income guarantee." |