Letter from Social Justice Secretary to Work and
Pensions Secretary
Social Justice Secretary has written to UK
Work and Pensions Secretary , calling for an urgent change to the UK Government's
“immoral and reckless” social security reforms.
Ms Somerville welcomed the suggestion by Prime Minister that cuts to winter fuel
payment could be eased, but said this was not enough.
In the letter the Social Justice Secretary said:
“I was pleased to hear the Prime Minister announce plans to ease
the Winter Fuel Payment cuts in Parliament last week. I am also
aware of various media reports suggesting that a change in the UK
Government's two-child limit may be announced shortly. I welcome
these developments and recognise that it is a step in the right
direction to delivering a more robust Social Security system.
“However, deep concerns remain around the UK government's
damaging social security reforms, including those announced in
the ‘Pathways to Work' Green Paper.
“Given the speculation on the reversal or partial reversal of
policies on Winter Fuel Payment and Two Child Cap, I call on you
to urgently scrap these immoral proposals on disabled benefits.
“These plans will only push more into poverty. It is therefore
reckless and totally unacceptable for the UK Government to press
ahead, not least due to the expected severity of the impact they
will have on all our efforts to end child poverty - completely
undermining the work of the UK Child Poverty Taskforce.”
