Scottish and Welsh ministers press UK to scrap benefit limits

Scottish and Welsh ministers have urged the UK Government to scrap the benefits cap and bedroom tax in its forthcoming Budget, and to devolve more welfare powers. Their appeal has drawn criticism from opposition politicians, who say expanding benefits would add pressure to public finances and make it harder to prioritise employment.

The UK welfare bill is forecast to rise from £314.8 billion in 2024/25 to £406.9 billion in 2030/31, while Scotland’s devolved benefits spending is projected to grow from £6.8 billion to nearly £9 billion a year. The article says this contributes to forecasts of a £5 billion gap in Scotland’s public finances by the end of the decade. The benefit cap limits payments to £486.98 a week for a couple outside London; ministers argue the cap, bedroom tax and young parent penalty cause hardship and hinder efforts to reduce child poverty.