Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke MP Pamela Nash has slammed the Scottish Government for refusing to release £50 million in funding received from the UK Government to support people facing financial hardship over the winter.
The UK Government announced early in September that it would be extending its £500 million Household Support Fund, with £50 million intended to help Scottish local councils support struggling households.
However, almost two months after the announcement, councils across Scotland are yet to receive any of the funding.
North Lanarkshire Council’s Convener for Finance and Resources, Councillor Andrew Duffy-Lawson, has written to the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Shona Robison MSP, appealing for the money to be released.
Pamela said: “Our new Labour UK Government released this money with the express intent that it be used quickly and efficiently to help those struggling to pay the bills this winter.
“Across England, low-income households can apply to their local councils now for support from the Fund. But here in Scotland, people are unable to access this money. The Scottish Government is sitting on our £50m and it appears to have no intention of distributing it.
“This money cannot be used to plug the gaps caused by the SNP’s woeful mismanagement of our finances. It must be put into the hands of those who need it now.
“If there is no intention of establishing a like for like equivalent of the UK Government’s Household Support Fund, then the Scottish Government needs to explain exactly how this additional funding will be used to support struggling households here in Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke, and right across the Scotland.”
The Scottish Government has since confirmed it has not implemented an equivalent of the Household Support Fund in Scotland.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Barnett consequentials are received by the Scottish Government following UK spending in devolved areas, and it is for Scottish Ministers to determine how best to utilise available funding to meet the Scottish Government’s objectives.
“The Scottish Government has not implemented a like for like equivalent of the UK Government Household Support Fund.
“Despite facing the most challenging financial situation since devolution, the Scottish Government has allocated £3 billion a year since 2022-23 to policies which tackle poverty and mitigate the impacts of the cost of living crisis on households.
“This includes providing free bus travel for around two million people, free school meals for all children in primaries 1-5, and social security benefits and payments like the Scottish Child Payment and Scottish Welfare Fund which are only available in Scotland.”
Information about support for households, including benefits and the Scottish Welfare Fund, is available at www.gov.scot/costofliving
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