The rollout of a £20 a week payment to hundreds of thousands of low income families by the end of the year could be at risk.
Technical issues have led the SNP/Green Government to suggest Whitehall may need to provide a “letter of comfort” on timescales for extending the Scottish Child Payment.
The SCP, which is the Government’s flagship anti-poverty policy, currently pays £10 a week to eligible families for each child under six.
In November, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the payment would be doubled for this age group from April and then rolled out to under 16s by the end of this year.
Over 400,000 children could be eligible for the doubled payment from that point onwards.
However, a minute of a meeting in November between the Scottish Government and the UK Government's DWP shows there is uncertainty about the roll out.
At the virtual summit, held weeks before the First Minister’s announcement, Social Justice Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison said there was an “ongoing issue” around the “preferred technical solution” and the timescales for phase two of the SCP.
The minute added: “She suggested that, if DWP’s preferred solution was taken forward, Scottish Ministers would be seeking a letter of comfort from DWP with assurances that it was deliverable to Scottish Ministers timescales.”
Chloe Smith, the UK Government’s minister for disabled people, agreed to a “separate discussion” to assess the situation with the Scottish Government.
The minute, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, continued: “She [Smith] stated that there was a broader point here about the dangers of making public commitments before working through delivery timescales and feasibility with DWP.”
Scottish Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy said: “For 14 years the SNP have promised the world, failed to deliver and pointed fingers. They can’t keep doing this. They can’t play games with child poverty.
“There is no time to waste in getting the new systems up and running - but the lack of urgency and planning from all sides is astonishing.
“Families need urgent clarification on whether they can expect these payments this year, in line with promises that have been made.
“Both governments must do everything they can to make sure this money ends up in the pockets of those who need it, and quickly.
Robison told the Record: "Delivery of our new social security system is a joint programme with the UK Government and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). We are in regular dialogue with the DWP and are confident that our delivery timetable is realistic and achievable.
“We have been in discussion with the DWP, since summer 2019, regarding our intention to extend Scottish Child Payment to under 16s by the end of 2022. We are currently working to an agreed joint plan for delivery but are dependent on the DWP to do their bit on time, to make this happen.
“We will continue to work closely with the DWP to extend our Scottish Child Payment to under 16s before the end of 2022 and have contingency plans in place to make sure low income families get the support they are due. Putting money into the pockets of people who need it is our priority.
“We have already worked with local authorities to provide immediate support for around 150,000 school-age children with Bridging Payments worth £520 in 2021 and we will make these payments again in 2022, ahead of the full rollout of Scottish Child Payment.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: "We are delivering on devolution and will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government as they move forward with devolved benefits. It is vital that in planning for delivery of its benefits the Scottish Government seeks to engage with us as early as possible."
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