Devolution Of Job Powers

There are calls for the UK Government to 'wake up the Zombie Parliament' and devolve job creation powers to Scotland immediately.

Scottish Labour's Ian Murray will present his Job Creation Bill in the House of Commons today.

If given the go ahead, it would devolve the job creating powers of the Work Programme to the Scottish Government. Scottish Labour would then back devolution of the powers to Scottish local authorities.
 
Speaking ahead of the Bill being discussed in the House of Commons, Ian Murray MP said:
 
"The cross party Smith Commission agreed that the job creating powers of the Work Programme should be devolved to Scotland. Scottish Labour wants that to happen immediately, we shouldn't have to wait for the election.
 
"The Tories' Work Programme is failing Scotland. In some parts of Scotland it’s no better than doing nothing to find a job. Thousands of our young people have been unemployed for more than a year. It's time we wake up the zombie Parliament and devolve the job powers now.
 
"If Government ministers don't take the action we want, we’ll do it immediately on forming a Government after May. And Labour will deliver the Home Rule Bill for Scotland to Parliament in the first 100 days of the next Government."

The Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare will also meet today.

Members want Westminster to devolve powers immediately which would allow the 'bedroom tax' to be scrapped.

More than 6, 000 people in Fife alone pay the charge.

Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said:

"This forum has been agreed to get the transfer of welfare powers right and ensure UK legislation is clear, fit for purpose and reflects the spirit and intention of the Smith Agreement. Above all, it must give us the tools to help people on benefits.

"I want to abolish the 'bedroom tax' as soon as possible. Reflecting significant concerns across Scotland, I also believe that the roll out of new Personal Independence Payments should be stopped and we should consider options for the future of disability benefits in Scotland, as they will be devolved in the near future. More generally, the UK Government should not take decisions on areas identified for further devolution without the Scottish Government's agreement.

"I want to use the administrative flexibilities offered around Universal Credit to do things differently, more quickly and on Scotland's own terms. In consultation with our partners, I want to consider paying housing costs direct to landlords and changing how frequently benefits are paid. I also expect to receive further clarity on the timescales for devolution of employment services, in particular the Work Programme.

"Through the Ministerial Group, we will work constructively with the UK Government to transfer these powers to Scotland smoothly. The UK Government must give us the clarity we need in all of these areas, before the pre-election period, to get the best deal for the people of Scotland."