By Lucy Ashton
Jackie Baillie has spoken of her frustration at the lack of support by the SNP for people struggling to pay their bills.
Her Scottish Labour colleague Anas Sarwar raised the matter during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday as household bills and energy costs rose to record levels.
The Dumbarton constituency MSP, pictured right, has been inundated with correspondence from local people angry that a £150 cost of living payment announced by the SNP Government is being deducted from people’s council tax bills rather than being handed over as a lump sum.
Some 38,500 households in West Dunbartonshire will be eligible for the payment which applies to those who stay in homes in council tax bands A-D.
She said: “This is the wrong approach. Both SNP-led West Dunbartonshire Council and Argyll & Bute Council are splitting the £150 over 10 months so that all that people will receive is £15 rather than the full £150.
“People need this money in their pockets right now as they try and pay their winter fuel bills, not spread out over ten months, including the summer when they aren’t using as much electricity and gas.
“The Labour Party has a fully costed plan which will give each household in Scotland up to £600 but the SNP and Tories have failed to back the windfall tax which will take money from oil and gas companies who continue to make massive profits while the rest of us struggle.
“The SNP Government must act rather than plunging our communities, including those in West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond further into hardship.”
Alan from Alexandria contacted Ms Baillie’s office to express his frustrations over the method of payment.
He said: “A cost of living allowance is not just about your council tax. People are facing huge heating bills right now.
“It is surely up to the individual how they prioritise the use of the £150 rather than having it deducted monthly from their council tax bill.
“Families need help now, not spread out over the summer when their need for heating is much less.”