Scope reaction to the Autumn Statement

Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of disability charity Scope, responded to the Autumn Statement:

"If the Government is serious about a Paralympics legacy where disabled people can fulfil their potential, then it's time to strike a different tone when it comes to talking about welfare.

"The vast majority of disabled people need support.

"They aren't feckless, they aren't workshy and they aren't scroungers.

"It can feel like heresy. But benefits are a good thing. They enable people to live their lives. We shouldn't shy away from this.

"Every Paralympic athlete will have had some state support at some stage. Society is the loser if we squeeze support to the bare minimum people need to survive, not live.

"We know times are tough for everyone but disabled people are being hit harder than most. They face a triple whammy of cuts to their benefits, cuts to local services as local authority budgets get squeezed and an ever increasing cost of living.

"We understand the Government has to save money. Disabled people will be pleased to hear that Carer's Allowance and disability benefits will rise in line with inflation. At a time of ever increasing cost of living this will offer some small relief. But what happens when DLA becomes Personal Independence Payment in 2013? Can the Government confirm that the rise in line with inflation will also apply to this disability benefit too?

"And what about disabled people who are looking for work?

"A 1% increase in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for the next three years is effectively a cut. Disabled people face massive barriers to finding work. The fitness for work test is failing and the Work Programme isn't delivering. This will make it even tougher for disabled people looking for work in this challenging economic environment.

"The introduction of a new piece of legislation, the Welfare Uprating Bill also raises eyebrows. We're concerned that it could be used to restrict benefit uprating in the future leading to further cuts down the line."