Levels of child poverty in Scotland are shameful – and any attempt to tackle the issue should be welcomed.
In Inverclyde, officials thought it would help to use existing council tax information to boost free school meals and uniform grants.
It sounds like a good idea – and the intention was clearly to use available details to make a difference.
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All they would need to do is share the data between finance and education services.
It would reduce the need for applications and automatically get benefits to those who are entitled to them.
But the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions insist data cannot be reused and put a stop to it.
The DWP are already to blame for imposing Tory policies on the poorest in society.
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Welfare reform and cuts have already pushed up debt and rent arrears.
The plan in Inverclyde showed some creative thinking when councils are so often accused of dragging their feet and putting red tape in the way of simple ideas.
Angry officials are now raising this frustrating block with the Scottish Government.
Hopefully the extra pressure will remind the DWP to be part of the solution, not the problem.
Patients deserve vital life drugs
Bureaucracy held up vital medicine for far too long.
But a dose of sense finally released a life-prolonging drug for cystic fibrosis patients.
The fight to get Symkevi really took off last summer when brave Kelli Gallacher begged the First Minister not to let her die.
With the Record’s help, and her determination, pressure was kept on the drug firms and the Government.
Kelli’s treatment begins today and she can look forward to a longer life.
Now, the Scottish Medicines Consortium must get on with it – and make life better for other desperate sufferers.
Little Nala adds feline good factor
Cycling around the world on your own is certainly a challenge.
But Dean Nicholson’s choice of a purrfect travelling companion – a little, adopted kitten he has named Nala – is definitely unusual.
It’s a tale of friendship guaranteed to give you a warm feline.
