Party’s manifesto also calls for changes to fiscal rules to boost infrastructure
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has pledged to push for the devolution of housing benefit in its general election manifesto.
The SNP, which is widely predicted to lose seats in the election to a resurgent Labour, believes devolving housing benefit and Local Housing Allowance to the Scottish Government would allow to be more innovative in tackling child poverty, as well as boosting social housing delivery and encourage investment in housebuilding.
The party also wants to scrap the ‘bedroom tax’, under which tenants deemed to have a spare bedroom have their housing benefit reduced, combine the Warm Home Discount and Energy Company Obligation to create a ‘flexible fuel poverty scheme.’
It also pledging to reintroduce a “simplified” Help to Buy ISA.
The SNP also wants current fiscal rules in Westminster to be overhauled and replace with new ones to enable increased capital investment.
It said: “The UK Government must abandon the current trajectory and recognise the value of investing in national infrastructure”
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It is proposing introducing a public sector net worth rule, which it said would “recognise the value of investing in infrastructure and public sector assets”. It is calling for the introduction of detailed three-year spending plans and an upper limit on debt servicing costs.
SNP has pledged to reverse the estimated £1.3bn cut from Scotland’s capital budget by 2027/28 in the UK spring budget
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