17 January 2018

Nicola Sturgeon has today called on the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to make urgent changes to Universal Credit (UC).

She made the call as she backed warnings from Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson over the impact of UK Government welfare policies on young people.

The First Minister and Mr Adamson this morning visited Start Up Stirling, who provide a foodbank and support service for people in poverty.

They heard first-hand from people who use the service how the mishandled UC roll-out and continued welfare cuts are affecting them – including the need for emergency food aid and dealing with rent arrears and debt.

FM @NicolaSturgeon calls for UK Government to make urgent changes to 'failing' #UniversalCredit system – as visits @stirlingstartup foodbank with Scotland's Children's Commissioner @Bruce_Adamson https://t.co/eN2CTgQ2IO pic.twitter.com/KbHVMYTOYc

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) January 17, 2018

Nicola Sturgeon said:

The rising use of food banks, with charities like Start Up Stirling forced to step in and provide support, is symptomatic of a broken welfare state. It is abundantly clear that the Universal Credit system is failing those it is designed to support.

“The new Secretary of State must admit that UC is forcing families into crisis and take the step her four predecessors wouldn’t – by halting the roll-out of this fundamentally flawed system.”

The Children’s Commissioner added:

Experiencing poverty is a violation of children’s rights and their human dignity. Children have the right to benefit from social security and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child makes clear that in order to fulfil children’s rights, support must be given to parents.

“The UK must ensure that children’s best interests are a primary consideration when taking decisions that significantly impact on families.”

Watch Children's Commissioner @Bruce_Adamson set out his concerns that UK welfare cuts are impacting on rights of children – as he accompanied FM @NicolaSturgeon today on a visit to @stirlingstartup food bank https://t.co/eN2CTgQ2IO @CYPCS pic.twitter.com/DwfaVSzEAz

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) January 17, 2018

The Commissioner and FM @NicolaSturgeon visited @startupstirling this morning to see first-hand how the charity supports people in poverty.

Poverty is the biggest human rights issue facing children in Scotland, and our website explains why 👉 https://t.co/kigcLq3YOw pic.twitter.com/3oU8bSCX0P

— Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland (@CYPCS) January 17, 2018