Money to be used to mitigate against effects of universal credit

An additional £100,000 of funding is to go to the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland.

Angela Constance, cabinet secretary for communities, has announced the additional Scottish Government funding at CPAG’s annual conference.

The cash will be used to help the organisation support families struggling with the roll out of universal credit and the “damaging impact it is having on people across the country.”

Constance said: “Today I am pleased to announce an increase of £100,000 in the funding we provide to CPAG, to enable them to increase their advice services. These have faced a rise in demand, particularly in relation to the roll out of Universal Credit and the damaging impact it is having on people across the country.

“This builds on the important work they undertake to provide training and support with complex cases - having supported more than 470 organisations during the last year alone.

“This work is especially important given that just a week ago, the National Audit Office’s ‘Rolling Out Universal Credit’ report provided more damning evidence that Universal Credit is failing, and causing increased debt, rent arrears and anxiety for many people across the UK.

She added she had written to the UK government six times in two years highlighting grave concerns around universal credit and that it was “high time that they listen to what we are saying.”