Following the pre-budget report earlier this week, the UK government has announced that £10million will be given to Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales. Scottish Labour is calling on the SNP to pass on that consequential in full (amounting to £1m) to money advice agencies in Scotland, stepping up calls from earlier this week.

Labour's Housing spokesperson Mary Mulligan said:

"We have consistently called for action in supporting Scottish homeowners and the SNP now have a perfect opportunity to assist people with debt problems by using this money from Westminster effectively.

"By providing £10 million to Citizens Advice Bureaux in England And Wales to increase advice services, the UK government showed their commitment to helping people cope with debt. It is time for the SNP to pass that funding on to money advice agencies to provide equivalent one-to-one support to people in Scotland.

"This money should go directly for money advice and it would be outrageous if it was diverted for other SNP projects."

Mark Lazarowicz MP said:

"I am particularly pleased that the Labour government provided £10 million to Citizens Advice Bureaux to increase face-to-face advice for individuals and families in England. In Scotland, Alistair Darling has provided £1m of new funding as a result - and it is time for the SNP to pass that money to Citizens Advice Scotland to provide equivalent one-to-one support to people in Scotland."

28 November