Statement by TUV Upper Bann candidate Roy Ferguson:
“I was shocked to learn that almost 210,000 people in Northern Ireland – one in every nine – receive Disability Living Allowance.
“While we all know people who are deserving recipients of DLA the current level of pay-outs is unsustainable.
“The legacy of 30 years of terrorism will of course result in higher levels of disability here than in other regions of the UK but the rise of more than 23% in the last 10 years does raise worrying issues.
“TUV believes that as many people as possible should be gainfully employed. Sadly much of the focus in the last Assembly has been on maintaining a benefits system here which is much more generous than the rest of the UK.
“Not only is this a drain on our finances but there is a danger that Northern Ireland is seen as a “soft touch” when it comes to benefits which will lead to increased migration to this part of the UK due to so-called benefit tourism.
“Additionally, as a result of the so-called “Fresh Start” deal preferential treatment will be given to terrorists who disabled themselves by their own hand when it comes to benefits. It is perverse that the victim of an accident will be treated less favourably than a convicted terrorist under the new system. Someone injured in a road traffic collision may only get four benefit points and lose their benefits, but a self-injured terrorist will be gifted an extra four points to preserve his benefits.
“In Stormont TUV is the only party to have spoken out against this.
“If people want things to change in the Northern Ireland Assembly it is vital that multiple TUV MLAs are returned in a few weeks’ time.”