Ministers burying their heads in sand over ballooning benefits bill, say Tories

Ministers have been accused of “burying their heads in the sand” over Scotland’s “ballooning benefits bill”.

The Scottish Tories will accuse the Government in Parliament of being “in denial” about how to close a £2bn funding gap identified by Audit Scotland.

The figure represents the forecast total difference between Scottish welfare spending and the funding allocated via the block grant by 2030.

The Tories will lead a debate at Holyrood on Wednesday urging MSPs to tackle the “crisis” in Scotland’s welfare system, the cost of which is set to continue to rise.

Alexander Stewart, the party’s social security spokesman, urged the Scottish Government to tackle poverty by growing the economy, rather than increasing welfare spending.

He said ahead of the debate: “Scotland’s finances are in crisis because of a ballooning and unsustainable benefits bill under the SNP.

“Audit Scotland laid bare a £2bn black hole in social security spending, yet nationalist ministers are in denial.

“They are burying their heads in the sand. They think they can just keep raising taxes on hardworking Scots to fund their excessive spending.

“It defies belief that when welfare spending has already spiralled out of control, both Labour and the SNP are increasing the black hole by ending the two-child cap.

“It’s reckless and unaffordable, yet the left-wing parties are unwilling or unable to accept this basic reality.

“The Scottish Conservatives recognise that the best way to lift people out of poverty is by growing our economy and creating jobs.”

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.