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09/10/2012
McCausland Calls For Welfare Reform Push
Nelson McCausland has insisted the government pushes forward with the Welfare Reform Bill in Northern Ireland.
The Minister for Social Development was speaking before the Assembly during a debate on the controversial Bill.
He said any hesitation could be costly for the vulnerable sections of society.
He said: "We would endanger 1,500 jobs in Northern Ireland and it would cost us £200m.
"If the bill is delayed, there would be no Social Fund to help them."
The Bill will include changes to welfare payments including housing benefit, Jobseeker's allowance and disability living allowance.
Sinn Féin has argued the need for more negotiation with Westminster, but the DUP insists it goes through and have said Northern Ireland would otherwise risk losing millions of pounds in Treasury funding.
Mr McCausland was speaking on BBC’s Good Morning Ulster and said he was due to meet Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud next week.
"There are elements in the bill that are unpalatable, but we are working and negotiating with government to get the flexibilities we need,” he said.
"But this legislation needs to be through by 31 March. There is no more slippage time left. It would be irresponsible if people were to attempt it."
If the Bill is passed in Northern Ireland six benefits, including housing benefit, would be brought together in a single monthly Universal Credit payment.
The Northern Ireland Public Sector Alliance (Nipsa) says the Bill would be detrimental to working families and jobseekers.
Nipsa's deputy general secretary Alison Millar, said: "At a time when unemployment is rising in Northern Ireland it is not appropriate that the Assembly are debating how to take £500m annually out of the NI economy."
(IT)
The Minister for Social Development was speaking before the Assembly during a debate on the controversial Bill.
He said any hesitation could be costly for the vulnerable sections of society.
He said: "We would endanger 1,500 jobs in Northern Ireland and it would cost us £200m.
"If the bill is delayed, there would be no Social Fund to help them."
The Bill will include changes to welfare payments including housing benefit, Jobseeker's allowance and disability living allowance.
Sinn Féin has argued the need for more negotiation with Westminster, but the DUP insists it goes through and have said Northern Ireland would otherwise risk losing millions of pounds in Treasury funding.
Mr McCausland was speaking on BBC’s Good Morning Ulster and said he was due to meet Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud next week.
"There are elements in the bill that are unpalatable, but we are working and negotiating with government to get the flexibilities we need,” he said.
"But this legislation needs to be through by 31 March. There is no more slippage time left. It would be irresponsible if people were to attempt it."
If the Bill is passed in Northern Ireland six benefits, including housing benefit, would be brought together in a single monthly Universal Credit payment.
The Northern Ireland Public Sector Alliance (Nipsa) says the Bill would be detrimental to working families and jobseekers.
Nipsa's deputy general secretary Alison Millar, said: "At a time when unemployment is rising in Northern Ireland it is not appropriate that the Assembly are debating how to take £500m annually out of the NI economy."
(IT)
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