Priti Patel Snubs the Scots Say SNP

Following the latest snub to the Welfare Reform Committee from a DWP Minister, the 10th since 2010, the SNP has called on the Prime Minister to deliver on the respect agenda he promised in 2010 and require his Ministers to appear before Scottish Parliament Committees. 

The Scottish Welfare Reform Committee was established on 25 January 2012. 

The Committee's role is to monitor the implementation of the UK Welfare Reform Act 2012 and other social security legislation as it affects provision in Scotland and to consider relevant Scottish legislation and other consequential arrangements.

Priti Patel, the Minister responsible for employability and the devolution of social security powers, last week refused to attend a public meeting of the Welfare Reform Committee. This is the second time that Ms Patel has refused to meet the Committee in public – on the first occasion she declined on behalf of Iain Duncan Smith. 

This latest snub comes as the Chief Executive of SCVO has said that the UK government’s planned 80 per cent cut to employability schemes due to be devolved by the Scotland Bill “fatally undermines the ability of Scotland to do things differently”. 

Commenting, SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: “It’s no wonder she’s hiding from scrutiny – her government have cut 80 per cent of the funding for the back-to-work schemes being devolved, which the third sector has said ‘fatally undermines’ Scotland’s ability to do something different.

Scottish Welfare Reform Committee being snubbed by Priti Patel  say the SNP