Central government transferring risk and blame to councils on welfare support
12 Jan 2016 01:10 PM
Central government has transferred risk and blame to councils with its cuts to emergency social security support.
The union says a National Audit Office report on local welfare provision published on Tuesday (12) highlights the cuts and a worrying lack of information and co-ordination.
The transfer of responsibility to English councils and devolved administrations has come at a time when council funding has been slashed by the government.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Emergency social security support is a lifeline for families, yet the government appears happy to play politics by shifting all the risk and blame to local authorities.
"Ministers' complacency about the level of need and the hardships people face is sickening, particularly when they have cut council funding by more than a third."
Full report: Local welfare provision