Welfare Funds (Scotland) Act 2015
| Act of the Scottish Parliament | |
.svg.png) | |
| Long title | An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the maintenance of welfare funds and to provide for them to be used to help certain individuals; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2015 asp 5 |
| Introduced by | Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 8 April 2015 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through the Parliament | |
| Text of the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Act 2015 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Welfare Funds (Scotland) Act 2015 (asp 5) is an act of the Scottish Parliament relating to the maintenance of welfare funds.[1]
Background
The United Kingdom Government had recently passed the Welfare Reform Act 2012 to abolish the Social Fund, which meant that the Scottish Governnment operated the scheme on an interim basis.[2][3]
Legislative passage
The legislation was passed unanimously.[1]
Provisions
Local authorities are required to maintain a welfare fund, using their own funds, and using funds provided by the Scottish Government, in order to provide "occasional financial or other assistance".[1]
The act put the Scottish Welfare Fund on a statutory basis, replacing the Social Fund.[4][5] Unlike the Social Fund, the Scottish Welfare Fund provides non-repayable grants.[5]
Many recipients of grants from the fund have been people whose benefits were cut by the UK Government's welfare reform policies.[3]
Reception
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations criticised the "speed" of the legislative passage of the bill.[4]
References
- ^ a b c "MSPs unanimously pass Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill". Law Society of Scotland. 4 March 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill passed by Scottish Parliament". Scottish Legal News. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ a b Camp-Pietrain, Edwige (31 March 2025). "Eradicating Child Poverty in Scotland: A Political Goal under Devolution". Études écossaises (24). doi:10.4000/13lku. ISSN 1240-1439.
- ^ a b "Government urged not to rush social bill". The Herald. 6 October 2014. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ a b Statham, Rachel; Smith, Casey; Parkes, Henry. "TACKLING CHILD POVERTY AND DESTITUTION: NEXT STEPS FOR THE SCOTTISH CHILD PAYMENT AND THE SCOTTISH WELFARE FUND" (PDF). The Trussell Trust. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.