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Glasgow looks set to take the first step towards an experimental project which could see every citizen regularly receive a sum of money.

A report goes before councillors on Thursday, asking them to back an initial study into the feasibility of a ‘basic income’ trial, similar to schemes in places like the Netherlands and Finland.

Basic income is a form of social security, in which all residents regularly receive an unconditional sum of money from the government or local authority, paid for by publicly owned enterprises.

The paper up for scrutiny this week is by councillor Matt Kerr, executive member for social justice, and follows a presentation to the city’s Poverty Leadership Panel and community activists by the Royal Society of Arts.

It suggests Glasgow has a chance to take part in the global basic income debate - and at the same time address poverty, inequality and health issues in the city.

Councillor Kerr hails the basic income concept, but says its potential would have to be proven.

He commented: “Our welfare system is, at heart, a beautiful idea – but it is also, inevitably, now a product of decades of tinkering and tweaks; some of which have been successful and many of which have not.

“It is not what you would set out to design and build from the ground up today.

“I think basic income is an incredibly exciting idea – and it is clear that it is capturing people’s imaginations across the world – but we have to take an objective look at what its potential really is.

“Glasgow is exactly the right place to do that. This is something every part of our community can get involved in.”

If approved by the committee, initial research will be carried out this spring, with more detailed work scheduled for the summer.