Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD WELCOMES COST OF LIVING ACTION FROM SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Richard Lochhead MSP has welcomed the measures announced by the First Minister to support households with the cost of living crisis as part of the Programme for Government. 

The First Minister gave a commitment that the Scottish Government will use the powers and resources it has to help people in Scotland struggling with soaring prices, confirming that Ministers are taking the following measures:

• Doubling the fuel insecurity fund to £20m
• Doubling the discretionary housing budget to £5m
• Freezing rail fares until March 2023
• Introducing a rent freeze for social and private tenants from today until at least March 2023
• Introducing a moratorium on evictions until at least March 2023
• Increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £25 a week and extending eligibility to children up to 16 years old
• Working with local authorities to look at how free school meals can be extended to all P6 and P7 pupils

Speaking after the First Minister’s statement to Parliament, Richard Lochhead MSP said:

“Given the very serious situation facing households in Moray and across the country, it is right that the Scottish Government’s immediate priority is to support people through the cost of living crisis.

“The First Minister’s commitment that the Scottish Government will use all the powers and resources it has at its disposal to help people struggling with soaring costs is to be welcomed.

“Many of the measures being taken by the SNP Government, such as the increase in the Scottish Child Payment to £25 a week, will help put extra money in people’s pockets at a time when it is sorely needed.

“The introduction of a rent freeze and a moratorium on evictions will undoubtedly offer some comfort to tenants in Moray’s social and private sectors, many of whom simply cannot afford for their bills to rise any further.

“The SNP Government will continue to look at what more can be done in the weeks and months ahead to support households in Scotland through what is an emergency situation. We now need the new Prime Minister to move quickly and outline what the UK Government will do to tackle soaring energy bills and to make sure public services have the funding they need.”