Child Poverty Action Group

In a unanimous ruling, the Court of Appeal has held that the size criteria in the housing benefit regulations discriminate against disabled people, because they do not allow for an additional room to be paid for where a disabled person has a carer, or where two children cannot share a room because of disability.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Henderson concludes:

Responding to today’s Budget the head of CPAG in Scotland, John Dickie, said;

“Scotland’s families, like those across the UK, are already being absolutely hammered by the Coalition’s tax and benefit policies. Those policies will push tens of thousands more children into poverty and there’s nothing in this budget to turn that around. Instead the Chancellor has announced the next spending review will cut another £10billion from the welfare budget, another £10billion ripped out of the pockets of our poorest households.

New survey shows Scotland’s parents more likely to spend child benefit on clothes, food and nappies.

A coalition of over sixty of Scotland’s leading charities, unions and faith groups are today urging every Scottish MP to uphold what they describe as “six vital amendments” to the Welfare Reform Bill agreed by the House of Lords.

The Bill, as amended by the Lords in a series of defeats to the Government, returns to the Commons today (Wednesday 1st February).