“The Expert Working Group on Welfare” has been commissioned by the ruling Scottish Government to look at the medium and long-term options for welfare in an independent Scotland. The groups second report, “Re-thinking Welfare: Fair, Personal and Simple,” devotes several pages to a Basic or Citizens Income (CI). The Working Group does not endorse it as an immediate goal, but discusses it favorably as a long-term option. According to the report, “Introducing a full CI scheme would be such a significant reform that it may be best considered after the early years of independence have passed and the Scottish economy is maturing. For these reasons we would not recommend the introduction of a CI at this time. However it is an option that could be revisited in the future.”
The full report is available online:
The Expert Working Group on Welfare, “Re-thinking Welfare: Fair, Personal and Simple,” The Scottish Government, 4 June 2014.
