REGION’S FAMILIES WILL BEAR BRUNT OF UNFAIR CUTS
SNP MSP for the South of Scotland Aileen McLeod is today (Tuesday) highlighting new research showing the dangers hidden in proposed Tory cuts to tax credits for families in Dumfries & Galloway.
The children’s charity Barnardo’s Scotland has calculated that over half – 53% – of all families in Dumfries & Galloway currently use working tax credits, helping them buy food, clothes and other essentials for their children. This trend continues across Scotland; with 49.1% of Scottish families using tax credits as well as 30% of people entering employment remaining in poverty.
These figures come ahead of George Osborne’s Emergency Budget later this week, as it is expected to include measures to reduce tax credits – a vital measure for supporting working families.
A report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission this week warns that more than seven million children across the UK will be hit by the proposed cut to tax credits, with the cut reducing the income of 45 per cent of working families – with 72 per cent of these families already earning less than £20,000 a year.
Aileen said:
“With every day that passes, the impact that George Osborne’s expected cuts will have on working families is becoming undeniable. These cuts will have a major impact on the majority of working families in Dumfries & Galloway who use tax credits to help them stay above the breadline. It is extremely worrying to hear that Barnardo’s Scotland has calculated that approximately half of Scotland’s working families will lose out in the Emergency Budget.
“It’s not too late for George Osborne to call a halt to these unfair cuts. Supporting people into work is such a vital element of tackling unemployment. At a time when employment in Scotland is rising in a challenging economic environment, cutting tax credits or work allowances is a deeply damaging move.
“There has never been a more important time to highlight how vital it is that Scotland be given control over her economy and social securities. With this, The Scottish Government would be better equipped to protect the vulnerable, unemployed and working families than the austerity-obsessed Tory government in Westminster. With these tools, we can boost the minimum wage, tackle the increasing inequality in our society and get people back into meaningful employment.
“This week’s budget is indeed an Emergency Budget, as it stands to create family budget emergencies across this region and beyond.”
Notes to editors:
The Barnardo’s Scotland release is available here:
