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Reforms will help Scotland Work - Michael Moore

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said the Government's welfare reforms will help Scots back into work.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said the Government鈥檚 welfare reforms will help Scots back into work. He said it would be fairer and 鈥榚nsure that work always pays鈥. Mr Moore said it will address the problem of people becoming trapped on benefits because of the financial disincentives to take up work.

The Universal Credit White Paper was published today. It is the most radical overhaul of the benefits system in a generation and simplifies the main welfare benefits into one single system.

Another main feature of the reforms is to stop people who take up work losing out financially. In some cases people can lose up to 90% of earnings through paying tax and the removal of benefits. Under the new plans, as earnings rise, the Universal Credit will be withdrawn at a constant rate of around 65p for every pound of net earning.

Michael Moore said:

鈥淭oo many Scots have been out of work for too long. Most people who are out of a job want to get back to work, and this government will help them do that.

鈥淭hese are radical changes to make the welfare system fairer and聽 easier to understand.

鈥淲e will provide proper support for those who can鈥檛 work, help to get those who can work into work, and ensure that work always pays.

鈥淧eople mustn鈥檛 be penalised financially for taking up jobs and trying to support their families. It can鈥檛 be right that someone finds themselves out of pocket by taking up a job. That is deeply unfair, and we will put a stop to it.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also right that steps are taken to ensure people can鈥檛 simply opt out of the process of finding a job.

鈥淎 proper welfare system is fair to those who need it and fair to those who pay for it: that is the system this government is creating.鈥

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Published 11 November 2010