Over 8,000 Scots were successful in appeals against disability benefit decisions

More than half of disability benefits appeals lodged by Scots last year were successful.

Over 8,000 challenges against Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decisions were successful in 2016/17, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

The figure amounts to around 55% of the total appeals launched in Scotland, and the Westminster government has been accused of dragging disabled people through the mud.

SNP MSP Clare Adamson said: “PIP assessments can cause angst, grief, stress and health issues. They are dragging people through the mud, all for nothing.

“Theresa May’s vow to fight against "burning injustices" in her first speech as prime minister was simply a lie. The welfare state the under the Tories is a contradiction in terms that they are harming rather than helping people in need in this country.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “We’re committed to continuously improving the process for people so that they get the support they need.

“We’ll continue to take forward our actions to improve assessments, with an emphasis on promoting transparency and ensuring people get the right decisions, first time round.”