£201,400 PAID TO FAMILIES IN MIDLOTHIAN AND £196,200 PAID TO FAMILIES IN EAST LOTHIAN FROM SCOTTISH WINTER HARDSHIP FUND

2,014 FAMILIES IN MIDLOTHIAN AND 1,962 FAMILIES IN EAST LOTHIAN RECEIVE £100 WINTER PAYMENT 
 
2,014 families in Midlothian and 1,962 families in East Lothian have received a £100 COVID winter hardship payment to support them through one of the most difficult winters in living memory.
 
New figures show that the SNP Government provided support to thousands in each of Scotland’s local authorities – with more than £14 million paid out to families in December.
 
In Midlothian £201,400 was paid out to 2,014 families and in East Lothian £196,200 was paid out to 1,962 families.
 
The payment, announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was made available to families who were in receipt of free school meals and was paid from 30th November to the start of the winter school holidays.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
“With the Scottish Government rolling out the Scottish Child Payment and supporting hundreds of thousands of families across Scotland with the £100 COVID winter hardship payment, the SNP is making a real difference to people’s lives and lifting children out of poverty.
 
“This has been an incredibly difficult time for families in Midlothian and East Lothian who may have faced lost earnings, increased food bills and cold weather. The £100 winter payment will hopefully have eased the financial strain many have been facing.
 
“In contrast to the Tories at Westminster, the SNP Scottish Government is doing all it can to ensure kids who receive free school meals do not go hungry.
 
“Alongside introducing the Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant and Best Food Grants, this SNP Government is committed to supporting children, whereas the Tories are planning to slash Universal Credit and get rid of the £20 uplift when families need it most.
 
“The only way Scotland can escape Westminster austerity and build a social security system based on dignity, fairness and respect is by becoming an independent country.”