Vital that vulnerable are protected in Spending Review

Ahead of the Spending Review announcements tomorrow Citizens Advice in Northern Ireland is calling on the coalition Government to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable are protected in any spending cuts.

The new Government has promised that the Spending Review will be “fair”.  However the Chancellor, George Osborne also stated that the Emergency Budget which he announced earlier in the year would be “tough but fair”.  Citizens Advice believes that this budget was certainly tough but was not fair as it continues to have a considerable impact on families and those on low incomes. 

Advisers in CAB across Northern Ireland are already seeing the impact of some of the announcements made in the Emergency Budget earlier in the year and are concerned about the effect of any further cuts on the most disadvantaged in our society.  Most notably clients, many of whom are vulnerable, are experiencing hardship due to the cut in interest rates for help with mortgage interest payments through the benefits system. 

Citizens Advice is concerned about some recent statements from the Government on the issue of welfare reform and benefit fraud which tend to demonise those in receipt of social security benefits.  The organisation is concerned that the Government does not rush into benefits policies that have not been properly thought through or tested for their impact on individuals. 

Derek Alcorn, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice said:

“The Government borrowed £1.3 trillion to bail out the banks, but the additional tax on them amounts to just £2.4billion. While Duncan Smith has certainly understood the poverty trap and the need to support people financially as they make the transition from benefits to work, we are concerned that the 5th or 6th richest economy in the world feels that the most vulnerable people in society should be the first to help pay for the hubris of the financial sector. The proposal to move to two essential benefits is an interesting one, but much more detail is needed.  There is a very real need to recognise that some people will always need help through the benefits system and it is crucial that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our society are protected in any reform of the welfare system.”