Church of Scotland hits out at welfare reform

The Church of Scotland has hit out at the UK Government's proposals on welfare reform, saying they are "deeply flawed".

The comments were made as the Kirk published its official consultation response to Westminster's green paper, "No One Written Off".

Work and Pensions Secretary, James Purnell first announced plans earlier in the year to drop income support, welfare benefits given to Britain's poorest since 1948.

Critics argued that single parents would be among those worst hit, because they would have to actively seek employment in order to qualify for jobseekers' allowance.

The Rev Ian Galloway, convener of the Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council, said he felt the plans were "disturbing".

"At a time when more and more of us are feeling the impact of the global financial crisis, and unemployment is starting to rise, it is disturbing that the Government is prioritising proposals to ramp up significantly the level of conditionality attached to benefit entitlement, rather than ensuring we have a system that meets the needs of those who depend on the benefits system," he said.

Although the Church welcomes the ambition contained in the title of the consultation, it takes issue on ethical and theological grounds with the Government's assumptions.

The response states: "'Dependency' is not a sin for which sanctions are necessary in order to spur people into laying it aside ... we depend on each other, rich or poor, disabled or able-bodied. Perpetuating the myth that only those in receipt of benefits are dependent - and using that as a basis for policy - is divisive.

"Paid employment is not the only way in which people contribute to society; we contribute as parents, as carers, as voluntary workers, and in other ways.

"Responsibility in parenting means making decisions and acting in the best interests of one's child or children; it cannot be automatically assumed that in all circumstances this means seeking paid work ... a commitment to family life should be rewarded, not penalised as an impediment to the apparent economic imperative of an 80% employment rate."

It goes on to note that the system must meet people's needs.

"There is little evidence for either the need or the effectiveness of sanctions to penalise those who fail to find work, or who fail to comply with training programmes. Steps to ensure decently-paid, appropriate work would be far more effective as incentives, alongside tackling the real barriers (availability of flexible and appropriate childcare, transport, etc)."

"The adequacy of current benefit levels is not discussed but seems to be assumed, just as research shows these are falling further behind year on year, and recent price increases in basic commodities like food and fuel put new pressure on those depending on benefits."

Rev Galloway said that there appeared to be an "unstated but clear policy move away from a system oriented to meeting needs".

The Church of Scotland said it welcomed proposals for better support for those struggling to find work, but asks whether there is adequate funding for this.

The response recalls that the origins of the modern benefits system lie in the system of parish relief with which the Church was intimately concerned.

"For all its flaws, that is one sign that we have a long-standing commitment to an effective benefits system, and to ongoing work with those who depend on its benefits," the Church of Scotland said in its official response.

"That is why we are deeply concerned at the erosion of any sense of a benefits system as a public good, and indeed as a mark of a civilised, compassionate society."