McMillan Raises Parliamentary Motion on Cuts to Welfare Spending

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

MOTION

Date of Lodging: 23 May 2011

Short Title: Cuts to Welfare Spending

S4M-00083 Stuart McMillan (Scottish National Party): That the Parliament notes with concern plans by the UK Government to cut £9 billion from the benefits budget over the Comprehensive Spending Review period, including over £2 billion from Disability Living Allowance and over £1 billion from employment and support allowance; considers that these cuts will have a direct affect on many disabled people in Scotland, potentially depriving tens of thousands of vital financial support to meet the extra costs that they face and to support them as they prepare for work; acknowledges the views of RNIB Scotland, which argues that this will disproportionately affect the chances of people with disabilities, including people with sight loss, to lead independent lives, and therefore urges the UK Government to review the savings to be delivered by measures contained in the Welfare Reform Bill and maintain essential support for blind, partially-sighted and other disabled people.