Call for evidence into welfare policy in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Committee

Policy in Practice welcomed the opportunity to provide evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee about welfare policy in Scotland.

The inquiry examined the effect of welfare policies on the lives of claimants, and poverty and inequality levels more broadly in Scotland.

We found that Scottish welfare policy has protected low-income households from some of the impacts of UK welfare reform.

However, there are remaining influences of austerity on claimants within Scotland, such as the two child limit.

Further work is needed to improve the lives of Scottish low income families, which will require coordination between Social Security Scotland and DWP during the transition of welfare responsibilities.