John Swinney has refused to rule out adopting changes that would add a further £1 billion to Scotland’s “bloated” benefits bill.
At First Minister’s Questions, Russell Findlay cited an SNP Government report that calls for more people to be made eligible for Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
The Scottish Conservative leader also highlighted a Scottish Fiscal Commission report which states that one million Scots will be in receipt of benefits by the end of the next parliament.
Findlay said hard-pressed Scots were already paying £1.8 billion more in tax than they would in the rest of the UK to fund increased welfare spending and that adding to that burden would be even more unfair and unaffordable.
He said the Scottish Conservatives were committed to reducing the benefits bill so that taxes could be cut for working Scots.
Findlay accused Swinney – and every other opposition party – of being in denial about the sustainability of welfare spending, and criticised the SNP’s tax-hiking budget which was passed by parliament on Wednesday.
Swinney would not confirm whether or not he would relax ADP eligibility criteria as recommended in the report.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Hard-working Scots struggling with the cost of living are already forced to pay £1.8 billion a year more in SNP income tax to fund John Swinney’s unaffordable benefits spending.
“But things are going to get worse – because an SNP government report wants more people to qualify for ADP.
“Astonishingly, it says that those whose condition is not serious enough to qualify should be paid the benefit.
“Implementing the report would add another £1billion to the SNP’s bloated benefits bill.
“It defies belief that John Swinney is even contemplating this.
“He is in a state of denial. This place is in a state of denial.
“SNP, Labour, Reform, Lib Dem, Green – they all think that we can keep spending more money on benefits, while expecting Scottish workers and businesses to pay for it.
“We can’t, we just can’t.
“The Scottish Conservatives know that we must reduce the benefits bill so that we can cut taxes to help people pay their bills.
“Yet the SNP’s deeply irresponsible budget does nothing to address their benefits time bomb.
“John Swinney should be honest for a change and tell the public which taxes he will raise and which services he will cut to pay for his benefits bill.”