76,880 LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN NORTH LANARKSHIRE SUPPORTED BY SNP GOVERNMENT

CRISIS GRANTS HIT RECORD HIGH OVER LOCKDOWN 

The Scottish Welfare Fund made 1075 of crisis grant payments to people in North Lanarkshire in the last financial quarter – an increase of 7% on last year – to help pay for essentials such as food, heating costs, and household necessities. 

Latest figures show that the Scottish Welfare Fund has paid out a total of 76,880 crisis grants to households in North Lanarkshire since it was established 2013. 

The Scottish Welfare Fund awarded £5.2 million in crisis grants across Scotland between April and June 2020, up 77 per cent on the same period last year – after Scottish Government increased the amount of funding available for the fund. 

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:

“The Scottish Welfare Fund is an important example of the kind of action the SNP has taken to ensure there is additional financial support in place for people in North Lanarkshire coping with the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“This vital support stands in stark contrast to what is happening at Westminster, with Tory MPs voting to deprive children of free school meals, and robbing Scotland of crucial funding to support our most vulnerable. 

“While the Scottish Government works to improve provision for families in North Lanarkshire facing poverty, we continue to have to spend money to protect the most vulnerable in our communities from UK government benefit cuts. 

“For as welfare decisions remain at Westminster, the SNP will continue to do everything in our power to tackle poverty and support people in North Lanarkshire to get through this challenging time.”