£3.4m fund to help benefit claimants hit by Westminster cuts

NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday set out a £5.4 million funding injection to help Scots affected by benefits cuts.

Up to a million Scots are set lose out when child benefit is cut for high earners and capped at below inflation rises of 1 per cent in the years ahead. Thousands will also lose out on housing benefit when a “bedroom tax” is introduced, making cuts if claimants have spare bedrooms lying empty.

The money unveiled by Ms Sturgeon will go to advice groups providing support and advice to those affected.

She said: “This reflects our serious concerns about the pace, scale and impact of Westminster’s benefits changes.

“Vulnerable groups, women and working families [are] all likely to suffer.”

But the Deputy First Minister faced accusations of “dishonesty” from opposition parties, who said the money was coming from the UK government – and had already been announced.

Tory MSP Alex Johnstone said the £5m was part of a UK-wide grant to fund advice services and Ms Sturgeon had been “caught out” repackaging the announcement.

“This extra support was announced by the Chancellor back in the 2012 budget,” Mr Johnstone said.