“528 households in Renfrewshire have been impacted since the introduction of the Tory benefit cap,” said Natalie Don MSP, commenting on the release of new figures which revealed the number of people affected by this callous policy.

The latest numbers from the Department of Work and Pensions showed that 5281 households in Renfrewshire were subject to the benefit cap from its introduction until the latest figures as of February 2022.

The SNP Scottish Government is spending £83 million on mitigating the UK government’s bedroom tax and benefit cap for people affected in Scotland and to support them through the Tory made cost of living crisis.

Natalie Don MSP added:

“Ever since its introduction in 2013 this callous policy has done nothing but punish the most vulnerable and severely limit their ability to provide for themselves and their families, and now couldn’t be a worse time for its effects to be felt and its limitations imposed on more households.

“As a Tory-made cost of living crisis ravages households across the country, it is important we look at ways of supporting people financially, not constructing more barriers and taking money out of their pockets - it’s long past time this disgraceful policy went.

“In Scotland, the Scottish Government is taking the steps it can to help families affected by these policies, but it shouldn’t have to mitigate damaging Tory austerity, nor should its efforts in tackling poverty be dragged backwards.

“With the full powers of independence, the Scottish Government can get on with the work of supporting Scottish people through tough times without the need to continually clean up after the Tories and their dangerous pursuit of an ideology-driven austerity agenda.

“Time and time again, amidst pandemics and crises, we’ve seen the Tories turn their backs on the most vulnerable people by refusing to reverse this policy - making it clear that only with independence can Scots be free of the worst of Tory rule.”