SNP HIT OUT AT LABOUR'S THATCHERITE CUTS TO SUPPORT FOR DISABLED

SNP HIT OUT AT LABOUR'S THATCHERITE CUTS TO SUPPORT FOR DISABLED

AXE TRIDENT - NOT VITAL BENEFITS

SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson and candidate for Glasgow East, John
Mason, has warned that Labour's dismal decade of cuts may have already begun
after it emerged the UK Government have slashed support for disabled
people in Scotland.

The Independent Living Fund offers additional financial assistance to
people already in receipt of support from social services to provide them
with sufficient funds to access essential support. Under proposed changes
to the eligibility criteria, the number of people in Scotland eligible for
the benefit will plummet.

Qualifying conditions have always ensured that ILF payments are targeted
at those adults with the severest disabilities and those in the greatest
need. However, the ILF has now tightened its financial eligibility and is
only accepting applications from people in paid employment of 16 or more
hours per week. In effect this will mean that as of 1 May 2010 the ILF
will be entirely closed to new applicants throughout the UK, apart from
those very few in paid employment.

Approximately 3,645 people in Scotland currently benefit from the ILF but
the Scottish Government estimates that only four individuals will be
eligible for ILF based on these criteria in the coming year.

Commenting, Mr Mason said:

"These could be the first cuts of Labour's dismal decade.

"Alistair Darling has already said Labour's cuts will be 'tougher and
deeper' than those of Margaret Thatcher. By slashing funding for a vital
support scheme for some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland, Labour
have demonstrated there is no diffference between them and the Tories.

"Instead of cutting vital support schemes, Labour should scrap their
obscene vanity project, Trident. Spending £100bn on nuclear weapons which
the people of Scotland do not want whilst slashing benefits for the most
vulnerable is indefensible.

"At this election, the SNP are offering an alternative. A vote for the SNP
is a vote to prioritise support for the most vulnerable over investment in
weapons of mass destruction. Our message is simple - more nats, mean less
cuts."