The Scottish Conservatives will today (Wednesday) unveil a new policy paper outlining how they plan to curtail the SNP’s “out-of-control” benefits bill, which is set to hit almost £10billion by 2030.
At an event in Edinburgh, party leader Russell Findlay, alongside shadow cabinet colleagues Alexander Stewart and Craig Hoy, will reveal proposals to deliver a fairer benefits system for everyone in Scotland.
The party plans to save taxpayers £1billion through a new and fairer assessment system for those claiming Scotland’s most expensive benefit, the Adult Disability Payment, which currently costs taxpayers £1.3billion in mental health claims alone.
The new assessment would mean that those claiming this benefit for a mental health condition would require a medical diagnosis and evidence that they face unavoidable and necessary extra costs due to their condition.
Russell Findlay also says his party are committed to ending the ‘tick-box culture’ within Social Security Scotland which means claimants literally only need to tick a box if they wish to continue receiving ADP.
He says that the SNP’s benefit spending plans are completely unsustainable and it is only the Scottish Conservatives at Holyrood who have a plan to fix Scotland’s benefits black hole.
Shadow social security secretary Alexander Stewart added that it is time to ditch the SNP’s “reckless” approach which forces Scots to pay more in tax for an ever-growing benefits bill while discouraging work.
The Scottish Conservatives believe the country desperately needs a new approach to welfare – one that provides a vital safety net for those who need it most and delivers a fair deal for the workers whose taxes fund the system.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay MSP said: “The SNP’s out-of-control benefits bill now accounts for almost one pound of every seven pounds spent by John Swinney’s government.
“With payments set to hit almost £10billion by 2030, this is unaffordable and unfair on hard-working Scots.
“Yet all the other parties, including Reform, think that we can keep pouring more and more taxpayers’ money into the black hole of the benefits system.
“Social security is a vital safety net for many people, and that will always be protected, but the SNP’s light touch system is open to fraud and abuse.
“Our detailed plans will rein in spending by creating a fairer system for everyone and cutting costs for Scottish taxpayers who are being hammered by the SNP.”
Scottish Conservative shadow social security secretary Alexander Stewart MSP added: “The SNP’s reckless approach towards welfare spending cannot continue.
“Scots are sick and tired of being forced to pay the highest taxes in the United Kingdom to fund a welfare bill that is growing every year. It is discouraging work and harming Scotland’s economic growth.
“Our new policy paper underlines where clear savings can be made and how we can finally deliver value for taxpayers. I urge the SNP to show some common sense and adopt our plans.”