War of words over welfare reforms

Report predicting surge in drugs and violence dismissed as ‘scaremongering’.

A furious row has broken out over claims welfare reforms will lead to a rise in boozing, drug taking, violence and even child abuse.

Two advisers to the Scottish Government have penned a report claiming plans to overhaul the benefits system will have a damaging impact on thousands. Steve Bell and Donna Burnett say poorer nutrition, increased respiratory illness and more cases of mental health disorders will be among the challenges facing medics as the cuts bite. The experts from the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives have also raised concerns about the reforms sparking a rise in drug addicts, alcoholics, violence and child protection issues.

But Tory politicians and taxpayers’ groups described their warnings as “scaremongering of the worst kind”.

Most benefits now paid to welfare claimants are being phased out. Six of those, including the jobseeker’s allowance, income support, tax credits and housing benefit, are to be merged into one, called universal credit. There is also to be a cap on the amount of benefit that can be paid to one household, equal to the average wage for working families.

The report on the changes states: “The impact of welfare reform is one that is or will be felt by a large proportion of the Scottish population. For some this will be neutral or perhaps even positive, but for others the impact is likely to be negative, with direct and indirect consequences for health and health inequality.”

However, Scottish Tory welfare spokesman Alex Johnstone poured scorn on the warnings. He said the reforms, drawn up by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith following a visit to a Glasgow council estate, are designed to reduce dependency rather than reinforce it. He added: “The information in this document demonstrates that Scotland is, if anything, even more in need of positive change.

“We already know paying people to do nothing can cause mental health problems, substance abuse and violent crime. There is no evidence to support the idea that breaking this cycle can cause more of the same. This is scaremongering of the worst possible kind.”

Robert Oxley, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “It’s deeply worrying if the NHS is basing policy on this frankly ludicrous assessment of recent welfare reforms. Some claims are so preposterous that they wouldn’t look out of place in a party political broadcast.”

The row comes after UN inspector Raquel Rolnik warned welfare cuts were pushing people to hunger and suicide.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “There are a lot of alarmist stories about the impact of our welfare reforms, which could lead to unnecessary scaremongering.”