One in three Scots worried about ability to pay for food

A third of Scots are concerned about their ability to pay for food and other daily essentials as financial pressures mount because of the coronavirus pandemic, a new poll has found.
People walk past at a Tesco ExpressPeople walk past at a Tesco Express
People walk past at a Tesco Express

The lockdown in place across the UK and Europe has seen many workers lose their jobs and others forced to take pay-cuts as companies look to cut costs as consumer spending plummets.

A survey carried out for Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) also found that four in ten Scots living in rented accommodation were concerned about making future payments on their home, while a third were worried about their ability to continue paying utility bills.

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Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said the poll was a reminder of the economic impact of the lockdown.

“Large numbers of people have been laid off, are waiting for financial support to arrive, or are falling through the gaps in the system and have limited access to funds,” he said.

The findings, published today, follow a warning by economists that the Scottish economy could contract by up to a quarter if the current lockdown restrictions continue for a three-month period.

The Fraser of Allander Institute said there was likely to be a “long road to recovery” from the “unprecedented” economic impact of coronavirus.

The poll comes as both the Scottish and UK governments, as well as industry regulators, have announced a range of measures to help people with the cost of living during the coronavirus crisis, including worker retention pay for employers, increased availability of the Scottish Welfare Fund, further funding for Council Tax Reduction and an increased value of benefits like Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits.

CAS, the umbrella body for the Citizens Advice network in Scotland, is now encouraging people to claim what they are entitled to boost their incomes.

Bureaux across Scotland have transitioned their services during the government lockdown, with every CAB in Scotland now offering advice over the phone or by email.

CAS chief executive Derek Mitchell said: “Coronavirus is not just a public health crisis but represents a cost of living one for households as well.

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“Our network helps hundreds of thousands every year and we have seen for some time the problem of people just about managing in our economy – people who are especially vulnerable to disruptions to their income or significant increases in bills.

“What is welcome is that both the UK and Scottish Government recognised these risks early in the process, announcing a vital package of measures to help people.

“Beyond that, there are options for people to apply for mortgage holidays and changes to housing law in Scotland as a result of emergency legislation means longer notice for evictions as a result of rent arrears.

“What is essential now is that people apply for the support they are entitled to so they can best navigate this crisis.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “This pandemic will have major impacts on our life, including to our personal finances.

“That is why we are delivering an unprecedented level of support and taking actions to help people through this crisis.

“In addition to UK-wide support for employees and the self-employed, we have announced one-off grants for businesses to help protect jobs, prevent closures and promote economic recovery. The grant support is part of a package of measures worth £2.2 billion.

“We have also introduced measures to prevent eviction of tenants who struggle to pay their rent and we have been in contact with banks asking them to take the very extreme circumstances into account when dealing with customers.

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