Motion Number: S5M-05080
Lodged By: Sandra White
Date Lodged: 06/04/2017
Title: Tax Credit Rape Clause
Motion Text:That the Parliament condemns the introduction of new measures for entitlement to child tax credits by the Department for Work and Pensions, which limits tax credits and the child element of universal credit to two children, unless a third or subsequent child was the result of rape; understands concerns have been raised by national women’s organisations including Engender, Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid on the impact of limiting social security to only two children, which it considers will deepen women and children’s poverty, including those in Glasgow Kelvin; believes that the so-called “rape clause” will have a traumatic impact, forcing women to disclose sexual violence to the state with the threat of deeper impoverishment if they refuse, and notes calls on the UK Government to withdraw what it considers this draconian legislation with immediate effect.