THE Scottish Parliament has new powers over welfare and ministers have promised a system based on dignity and respect.

A new Social Security Bill is awaited, which will outline the new system and those words will have to be put into action.

I haven’t yet seen the new film by Ken loach, I, Daniel Blake but from the publicity and reviews I would suggest anyone involved in this new system should watch it.

The movie has angered some critics and commentators in the right wing press, no great surprise there.

As I have yet to see it, I can’t comment on the artistic merit or acting ability but from what I already know the story seems closer to fact than what often passes for on-screen portrayals of life on benefits for many people.

If have read it described in one paper as “dour” “depressing” and the credibility of one of the leads questioned as “more like a Dickens character than 21st century Britain”.

Well, BONG! Here is the news: life on benefits is dour.

BONG! Dealing with the DWP and work capability assessment process is depressing.

And BONG! For a lot of parents the experience of poverty, having to trudge along to a local church to be handed out free food that your fellow citizens have generously provided does sound rather Dickensian.

I know this because long before Ken Loach shot his scenes for the film I had a front row seat at the Welfare Reform Committee in Holyrood.

Week after week, evidence was heard from people who had first hand, present day experience of the benefits system.

People who had benefits stopped with no notice left with no money for food or bills.

A blind man forced to beg on the streets.

People driven to the depths of despair and even to attempt suicide.

The ridiculous assessments where one man was asked to lift an empty cardboard box and  carry it across a room and put it down to decide his fitness for work.

I heard how people were treated worse than criminals as the lowest level of sanction (£286), was higher than the lowest level of court fine (£200).

Dour? Yes. Depressing? Certainly, and literally for the many whose mental health suffered as a result.

Dickensian? Well there is something 19th century about this system which seeks to blame and punish the poor rather than find ways of tackling the underlying problems and offer genuine help.

Don’t ever ask for more, Sir.

So, the Scottish Parliament, when devising its new welfare system has all the evidence it needs in front of it.

It may not have control of all welfare but enough to make a difference to people and end the suffering created by the system.

I heard a recent interview with Mr Loach which ended with one of his favourite songs ‘Which side are you on?’ by Scottish singer, Dick Gaughan.

That is the question to be answered by Holyrood when this new system is put in place.

THE Scottish Parliament has new powers over welfare and ministers have promised a system based on dignity and respect.

A new Social Security Bill is awaited, which will outline the new system and those words will have to be put into action.

I haven’t yet seen the new film by Ken loach, I, Daniel Blake but from the publicity and reviews I would suggest anyone involved in this new system should watch it.

The movie has angered some critics and commentators in the right wing press, no great surprise there.

As I have yet to see it, I can’t comment on the artistic merit or acting ability but from what I already know the story seems closer to fact than what often passes for on-screen portrayals of life on benefits for many people.

If have read it described in one paper as “dour” “depressing” and the credibility of one of the leads questioned as “more like a Dickens character than 21st century Britain”.

Well, BONG! Here is the news: life on benefits is dour.

BONG! Dealing with the DWP and work capability assessment process is depressing.

And BONG! For a lot of parents the experience of poverty, having to trudge along to a local church to be handed out free food that your fellow citizens have generously provided does sound rather Dickensian.

I know this because long before Ken Loach shot his scenes for the film I had a front row seat at the Welfare Reform Committee in Holyrood.

Week after week, evidence was heard from people who had first hand, present day experience of the benefits system.

People who had benefits stopped with no notice left with no money for food or bills.

A blind man forced to beg on the streets.

People driven to the depths of despair and even to attempt suicide.

The ridiculous assessments where one man was asked to lift an empty cardboard box and  carry it across a room and put it down to decide his fitness for work.

I heard how people were treated worse than criminals as the lowest level of sanction (£286), was higher than the lowest level of court fine (£200).

Dour? Yes. Depressing? Certainly, and literally for the many whose mental health suffered as a result.

Dickensian? Well there is something 19th century about this system which seeks to blame and punish the poor rather than find ways of tackling the underlying problems and offer genuine help.

Don’t ever ask for more, Sir.

So, the Scottish Parliament, when devising its new welfare system has all the evidence it needs in front of it.

It may not have control of all welfare but enough to make a difference to people and end the suffering created by the system.

I heard a recent interview with Mr Loach which ended with one of his favourite songs ‘Which side are you on?’ by Scottish singer, Dick Gaughan.

That is the question to be answered by Holyrood when this new system is put in place.