New group aims to address Scots welfare problems
Senior figures from civic Scotland met in Glasgow yesterday to launch a new group which aims to examine the impact of welfare reforms on Scotland, and bring forward proposals to fix the system.
The Scottish Leaders Welfare Group (SLWG) includes leaders from Scotland’s churches, Trade Unions, Local Authorities and voluntary sector.
They group launched their initiative by meeting in a Citizens Advice Bureau and then a foodbank to talk to citizens and charity workers who are in the front line of battling the impact of welfare austerity in Scotland.
Speaking on behalf of the group, its Chairman Lord McFall (pictured) said, “The overall aim of this group is to work collaboratively to highlight and respond to the impact of recent changes to the welfare and benefits system on the people, services, and communities of Scotland, especially vulnerable people or groups.
“The SLWG will use its collective voice to provide witness to the impact of welfare changes and will challenge government policy and practice where we believe these have a negative impact and result in deprivation.
“The group will highlight the responsibility of all levels of government and other interested stakeholders to pursue policies and practices which enable people to live a dignified life.”
The SLWG includes:
• Father Thomas Boyle, Assistant General Secretary, Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.
• Ronnie Convery, Director of Communications, Archdiocese of Glasgow.
• Sally Foster Fulton, Convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland
• Barbara Lindsay, Deputy Chief Executive, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
• Margaret Lynch, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice Scotland.
• Lord McFall of Alcluith, Chair of the SLWG .
• Cllr David O’Neill, President, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
• Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary
• Andrew Tomlinson, Associate Secretary, Church of Scotland Church and Society Council
