A UNIVERSAL basic income pilot is being planned for North Ayrshire – with a report recommending individuals regardless of benefits or income be given a regular unconditional payment.

A Citizens Basic Income (CBI) pilot in Scotland feasibility study has been completed with the draft final report stating a pilot would be desirable.

Over the past two years, North Ayrshire, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife councils worked together with NHS Health Scotland and the Improvement Service to explore the feasibility of a Scottish CBI pilot.

The concept is based on offering every individual, regardless of existing welfare benefits or earned income, an unconditional, regular payment.

As well as the resources provided by the partners involved, the Scottish Government provided £250,000 to support the feasibility work in Scotland.

Now, the draft final report is being released as the four councils involved prepare to go through the formal democratic process to discuss and debate the findings, before formally passing to the Scottish Government at the end of the month.

Council leader Joe Cullinane said: “The study clearly shows why we should pilot a bold and radical Citizens’ Basic Income.

“It has the real potential to combat poverty and tackle economic insecurity. A pilot would not only assess the impact and possible benefits on people’s lives but it would also test what economic choices individuals make with the greater economic freedom over their relationship with the Labour market that CBI would offer.

“As we rebuild our economy post-COVID, we must consider innovative solutions in recreating the social security safety net and now would seem the ideal time to test Citizens’ Basic Income as we face a global economic recession that will risk pushing more families below the poverty line.”

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