STEVENSON SLAMS WESTMINSTER MOVES TO FORCE SINGLE PARENTS INTO WORK

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has condemned moves by the UK Government to force single parents across the UK to find work or face losing up to 40% of their benefits. From the 24th of November 2008, lone parents with children over the age of 12 will be forced to claim for Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), rather than the current income support, with all the penalties for not finding work that this entails. Over the next 2 years, the cut off age will be lowered further to children over the age of 7.

These changes will require lone parents to sign on fortnightly, and have an action plan for seeking employment of at least 16 hours. The longer they are on JSA the more will be required of them to seek paid work, or else they will face sanctions including losing up to 40% of their adult benefit. As benefits are reserved, Westminster’s policy will also apply north of the border.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“It is clear that Westminster seriously undervalues the difficult task lone parents often face in raising their children. Although lone parents who choose to work should receive as much support as possible, I do not believe forcing them into poorly paid jobs with the threat of sanctions is a sensible measure.

“In two years, single parents with children as young as 7 will be forced into finding whatever employment they can. I don’t believe it is acceptable to classify single parents looking after young children as being unemployed, and making what can already be a difficult situation even worse.

“With unemployment figures rising thanks to current economic problems, does the Westminster Government really want to increase the number of people seeking jobs by viewing lone parents as being unemployed? Lone parents and their children in Banff & Buchan will only suffer as a result of this poorly considered move.”