Tories float two-child limit plan for Scottish Child Payment

Leader Russell Findlay made the announcement in Edinburgh alongside his MSP colleagues Alexander Stewart and Craig Hoy as part of the party’s commitment to deliver a “fairer benefits system for Scotland”.

Findlay cited evidence from a recent Scottish Government review of the payment which he said highlighted how the SNP’s flagship benefit is “acting as a disincentive to work for many recipients”, while others, who are employed, are turning down pay rises to avoid losing out on the benefit.

According to the party, the payment is set to cost Scottish taxpayers more than £500 million by the end of the decade.

The new paper also pledges to deliver £1 billion a year in savings for taxpayers by firming up assessments for those receiving the Adult Disability Payment for mental health reasons.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay MSP said that it is time for a new approach that makes work pay and gives people a hand up, rather than just a handout.

“Our country is blessed to have a social security system that helps people in genuine need, but the benefits bill has spiralled out of control under the SNP,” he said.

“We are the only party being straight with the paying public by saying that Scotland’s bloated benefits bill is unaffordable, unfair and unsustainable.

“The SNP have already been caught making false claims about the effectiveness of their flagship Scottish Child Payment.

“But there’s worrying new evidence, published by the government, showing that many recipients work less or even quit work altogether because they’re financially better off by claiming this SNP benefit.

“Benefits should be a safety net, not a lifestyle choice. Hard-working Scots who struggle to pay the bills know that no-one should be better off through a life on benefits.

“With costs of the Scottish Child Payment set to hit over half a billion pounds in coming years, we believe the time has come to limit the benefit to a couple’s first two children. This is a fair, reasonable and necessary measure.

“Given the child payment is a standalone SNP policy, the soaring costs in relation to it will have to be met either by more tax increases or cuts to public services.

“This commitment forms part of our bold new social security paper, which, in sharp contrast to every other party at Holyrood, outlines detailed plans to rein in the SNP’s welfare spending and deliver value for taxpayers.”

Scottish Conservative shadow social security secretary Alexander Stewart MSP added: “It should never be the case that any benefit is a barrier to work but that is precisely what is happening on the SNP’s watch.

“The SNP have allowed Scotland’s benefits bill to spiral out of control, which is trapping many people in a life on benefits or leaving them in a position where it would be a disadvantage for them to accept a pay rise.

“While we are firmly committed to providing crucial safety nets, our plans show that we can take a different path on welfare. It is time to give people a hand up, rather than handouts.”