Latest Press Releases
| UK GOVERNMENT COMPLACENT AND UNCARING OVER CRISIS LOANS |
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| Wednesday, 09 March 2011 00:00 |
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‘LEAST WELL OFF IN MORAY WILL SUFFER’ - ANGUS ROBERTSON MP Moray’s SNP MP, Angus Robertson, has branded the Scotland Office as ‘complacent and uncaring’ over cuts to the level and availability of Social Fund Crisis Loans, warning that the decision would force people on low incomes towards high cost or illegal lending. In Westminster the SNP has raised concerns at Scottish Questions over the announcement that the Tory Government will no longer pay Crisis Loans for items such as cookers and beds; the rate paid for living expenses will be cut from 75 per cent down to 60 per cent of benefit rate; and the UK government will implement a cap of three Crisis Loan awards for general living expenses in a rolling twelve month period. Mr Robertson is concerned that at a time when people are being laid off and the Moray economy is being hammered by Tory defence decisions the emergency support rug is being pulled from under them. Commenting local MP Mr Robertson said: “ It seems that the Tories have gone back to being the nasty party with this complacent and uncaring dismissal of the impact that cutting crisis loans will have on the poorest households. “ In Moray we are fighting the major economic damage from the closure of RAF Kinloss and the uncertainty over RAF Lossiemouth. People have already been made redundant and for many people that means difficulty in paying bills and getting on their feet again. Crisis Loans are an important part of the support mechanisms available when times are tough. “ By their very nature these crisis loans are a last resort, and it is appalling that the Tory Government are cutting this safety net. The only winners from this will be loan sharks and high interest lenders. “ These are loans that people pay back, so these cuts are not about saving money. What they will do is force people who are in crisis to take out high interest loans or to go to loan sharks. " With further powers over the economy and over the welfare system that supports our most vulnerable people we could put a stop to the Tories dismal decade of cuts, invest in growing our economy and support our most vulnerable properly so that together we can make Scotland better.” |
