Labour and SNP table amendments to Scotland Bill

The Scotland Bill will reach the next stage of its journey through Westminster today, with both the SNP and Labour planning to table amendments ahead of the debate.

With the bill debated in the chamber again today and tomorrow, the SNP tabled amendments to bring further welfare powers to Holyrood.

Meanwhile Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray introduced an amendment that would allow the Electoral Commission to introduce gender quotas in the Scottish Parliament.

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The SNP said its amendment would give the Scottish Parliament additional powers over working age benefits and benefits relating to children, power of National Insurance, and the power to legislate for employment support programmes.

Angus Robertson MP said: “At a time of savage cuts to the welfare state by the Tories - causing real hurt to hard working families and vulnerable people, and driving more and more people to food banks - the choice is between having welfare powers in Scotland's hands, or leaving them in the hands of Iain Duncan Smith and George Osborne. There is no other option.

 “That is why the SNP's welfare amendments to the Scotland Bill are so important, and why Scotland needs the Opposition parties to come together to support them. Labour will show where they stand - for Scottish control, or Tory control - and voting against the SNP's amendments or abstaining will signal that they prefer Tory control.”

Ahead of his own amendment, which would ensure the boards of public bodies are gender balanced, Murray said: “This is an idea whose time came many years ago. The fact is that despite good progress in the last decade there are still too few women in politics. Tinkering around the edges won't do the job anymore. There needs to be bold and radical action to ensure equal representation of men and women in the Scottish Parliament.

“This isn't a party political issue. The cause of ensuring gender equality belongs to no one political party or movement. I hope MPs from all parties will be able to come together to vote for my amendment.”