SCOTTISH PENSIONERS PAY THE PRICE FOR LABOUR FAILURE

STRONG SNP BLOCK WILL STAND UP TO BENEFIT CUTS

SCOTTISH PENSIONERS PAY THE PRICE FOR LABOUR FAILURE

The SNP Campaign Conference in Aviemore has today (Saturday) condemned
Labour plans to scrap Disability Living Allowance for the over 65s and
Attendance Allowance across the UK – in order to fund a new care service
for England.

Addressing delegates at the SNP’s spring conference, SNP Work and Pensions
Spokesman John Mason MP warned that the UK Government’s proposal would
impact on 145,000 eldery people in Scotland, push 58,000 vulnerable Scots
into poverty and adversely affect carers looking after those in receipt of
the allowance.

The conference passed a resolution by acclaim to resist these proposed
changes to Attendance Allowance and called on MPs from all parties to
unite against them.

Speaking after the resolution was passed, Mr Mason said:

"Labour’s plans ignore Scotland completely. This proposal is entirely
focussed on England with no attention paid to the consequences in
Scotland.

"It is inconceivable that instead of tackling poverty Labour are planning
to push 58,000 Scots – some of our most vulnerable residents – into
poverty and remove funding from a further 145,000.

"This is a clear sign of how little the UK Labour Government considers its
impact on Scotland and in particular on vulnerable Scots.

"Attendance Allowance offers essential support to many of Scotland’s
elderly and disabled residents and helps Scotland’s carers. To get rid of
this valuable benefit would be a hammer blow to elderly and disabled
Scots.

"The most vulnerable people in Scotland need local champions at
Westminster to fight against these devastating changes. Only a strong
block of SNP MPs will speak up against these disastrous proposals. More
Nats means less cuts."

Pensioner Poverty

The SNP condemns proposals by the Labour Party to scrap Disability Living
Allowance for the over 65s and Attendance Allowance across the UK to pay
for a new care service in England. Conference warns that the Labour
Government proposal could see 58,000 vulnerable Scots plunged into
poverty, that 145,000 elderly people in Scotland will be affected by the
removal of Attendance Allowance and notes independent assessments suggest
40% of those receiving Attendance Allowance will be pushed into poverty by
its removal. Conference urges all SNP candidates to hold the Labour Party
to account on these proposals, urges the Scottish Government to resist
these changes which take no account of Scotland and calls on all Scottish
MPs to oppose Labour’s devastating plans.

JOHN MASON MP
KENNETH GIBSON MSP