Disabled Scots are ‘losing out on work grants’
Information published by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) shows that while 8% of the people who receive Access to Work payments live in Scotland, only 6% of the funds spent on the scheme have gone to people north of the border.
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Hide AdIt shows that in 2013/14, £6.3 million was spent on Access to Work in Scotland out of a UK-wide total of £104.2 million.
There were 2,830 recipients north of the border out of a total of 35,520.
Access to Work grants are used to fund support for people with disabilities to help them start working or stay in work.
The SNP said the SPICe research indicates disabled people in Scotland are receiving an average payment of £2,200 compared to the UK average of £2,900.
SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: “The revelation that disabled people in Scotland are not getting their fair share of support is a clear cause for alarm.
“While people of course need support that matches their individual circumstances, the substantial difference between the Scottish and UK average is a cause for concern that cannot be overlooked.
“It shows disabled people in Scotland are receiving hundreds of pounds less on average than their counterparts elsewhere - support that could make a real difference when it comes to helping people with a disability work.
“These figures are further evidence of the fact that people in Scotland are losing out thanks to Westminster’s decisions. We need the opportunity to do things more effectively in Scotland.”
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