16,290 LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN MIDLOTHIAN AND 11,455 LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN EAST LOTHIAN SUPPORTED BY SNP GOVERNMENT

​CRISIS GRANTS HIT RECORD HIGH OVER LOCKDOWN 
 
The Scottish Welfare Fund made 815 crisis grant payments to people in Midlothian and 665 crisis grant payments to people in East Lothian in the last financial quarter – an increase of 19% for Midlothian and 23% for East Lothian 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 16,290 crisis grants to households in Midlothian, and 11,455 crisis grants to households in East Lothian since it was established in 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 Colin Beattie 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 Midlothian and East Lothian 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 Midlothian and East Lothian 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 Midlothian and East Lothian to get through this challenging time.”