Barnett formula row hits Scotland over how 'missing' £41m will be spent

The Scottish Government must explain how it will use extra cash from the UK Government to support people this winter, Labour has said.

The party said the decision to extend the Household Support Fund in England has delivered another £41 million to Scotland through the Barnett formula.

But Labour claimed Scottish ministers have "repeatedly refused to say" how they will spend the money.

It accused the Scottish Government of failing to pass on the cash to Scots struggling over the winter, and instead using it "to plug its own budget gaps".

Scottish Labour social justice spokesman Paul O'Kane accused Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville of being "missing in action".

He said: "Winter is fast approaching and people need to know what support will be available but it has been radio silence from the SNP."

"Shirley-Anne Somerville is missing in action and dodging questions while families across the country worry about how they will make ends meet."

"It would be a scandal if the SNP raids funding intended for vulnerable Scots and used it to plug their own budget blackhole."

Mr O'Kane said Labour will reinstate the winter fuel payment if it wins the Scottish Parliament election in 2026.

The UK Government has previously announced plans to scrap the payment for all but the poorest pensioners.

The Scottish Government later confirmed the benefit would also be scrapped north of the border, with the deputy first minister saying Holyrood had lost £160 million due to Labour's decision in England.

Mr O'Kane said Scots need support now.

He said: "Right now the SNP could use the funding it has to reverse its shameful decision to axe the Fuel Insecurity Fund and deliver energy bills support to thousands of households."

"The poorest Scots cannot keep paying the price for the SNP's financial mismanagement the SNP must explain what it is doing with the missing £41 million this year."

"The SNP must set out how it will use this funding to deliver a real safety net this winter so that Scots aren't left behind."

Ms Somerville said: "Labour is engaged in the most remarkable Orwellian double-think having just cut the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners across the UK, they now expect people to believe that they are in fact on the side of pensioners."

"Anas Sarwar sat on his hands while his Westminster colleagues forced through this cut, and he must explain why Labour failed to back the reintroduction of the winter fuel payment just a few weeks ago in the Scottish Parliament."

"At a time when people across Scotland are putting their heating on as temperatures plummet, Labour has broken their promise to reduce energy bills by £300 instead bills are going up."

"The people of Scotland will see right through the fact that Scottish Labour's ambition for Scotland is to simply mitigate decisions made by a Westminster Labour Government by contrast, the SNP will always put Scotland first."