The Adam Smith Institute Responds to the Government’s Welfare Reforms

Sam Bidwell, Director of Research at the Adam Smith Institute, said:

“Given the enormous fiscal liabilities that Britain now faces, the Government's proposed welfare reforms are a step in the right direction. Plans to tackle welfare dependency are particularly welcome, given the ballooning costs of long-term sickness benefits following the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, given the scale of the costs that we face in the medium-to-long term, the Government will need to be more ambitious if it wants to keep costs down.

Plans to scrap the Work Capability Assessment are particularly concerning - this is a crucial tool for ensuring that support is targeted at those who genuinely need it. While today's announcement is a welcome step, it must be followed by a more comprehensive programme to reform the welfare system, which is ultimately financed by the tax contributions of hard-working Britons.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

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