Scotland takes human rights approach to benefits, MPs told

Professor Stephen Sinclair has given evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee of the House of Commons.

The co-director of Glasgow Caledonian's Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit appeared before MPs who are conducting an inquiry into benefit levels in the UK.

Scotland has adopted a human rights approach to the benefits it controls, Professor Sinclair told the committee.

Social Security Scotland has responsibility for benefits for carers and the disabled and has introduced the Scottish Child Payment.

Professor Sinclair told MPs: "Social Security Scotland takes a dignity and respect approach. These are service users with rights rather than suspects who could have sanctions imposed upon them.

"It takes on board comment and criticism rather than being defensive."

The inquiry follows the Committee’s cost of living report last year which called on Ministers to review the adequacy of benefit levels.

The UK Government responded that "there was no objective way of deciding what an adequate level of benefits should be".

Professor Sinclair provided evidence remotely alongside Dr Steffan Evans, Head of Policy at Bevan Foundation, Ciara Fitzpatrick, Academic Adviser at Northern Ireland Cliff Edge Coalition, and David Stickland, Director at The Benefits Training Company.