Scottish Labour has announced its plan to deal with the current cost of living crisis across the country as household brace for a tough winter.
Leader Anas Sarwar urged the SNP/Green government to focus on what it can do to help people who are already struggling to pay their bills.
With inflation at a 40-year high at 10.1 per cent and the energy price cap set to rise again in October many are thinking how they will be able to make it through the winter months.
Sarwar accused the Scottish Government of "hiding money" and not doing enough to help the poorest in society.
UK Labour leader called for the cap on energy prices to be frozen for six months, while Sarwar outlined four areas where Nicola Sturgeon can help Scots.
Here is the Scottish Labour plan:
Household and business bills
Households and business across the country are already struggling to pay their bills and it is about to get a lot worse in the coming months.
The energy price cap is set to rise considerably in October then again in January. Labour has produced a four-point plan to help families with their bills this winter.
- Double the Scottish Child Payment bridging payments
- £100 rebate on water bills
- Create a Business Hardship Fund
- Top up the Welfare Fund
Housing
Sarwar announced a three-point housing support plan to help those struggling to get by over the winter months. Some of the measures wouldn't cost the Scottish Government a penny and would put pressure on landlords.
Here is the housing plan:
- Impose a temporary rent freeze to protect renters from increases in their monthly payments
- To ban evictions over the winter months in a bid to prevent homelessness across the country
- A renewed Tenant Grant Fund worth around £10 million
Transport
More and more of us are heading back into the office to work following the coronavirus pandemic.
Labour says it will cost around £66 million to make transport across the country more affordable which would mirror what many governments in Europe have already done.
- Half rail fares and freeze them for next year
- Create an online fuel price checker so people can see the average price of petrol and diesel is in there area
- Reducing the cost of bus journeys by providing local authorities with resources
Debt
The cost of living crisis is pushing more and more people into debt as they struggling to pay their bills leading to many people being forced to choose between heating and eating.
From schools meals to increasing funding for debt services Labour has a three-point plan to help those in need.
- Write off school meal arrears. Around £1m is currently owed by thousands of families already in Scotland
- Provide a further £6.5m to money advice services to deliver free guidance
- Emergency legislation to improve debt solutions
