THE Scottish Government has been challenged to provide more cash to allow Glasgow to tackle homelessness.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont branded the government’s policy as merely “lip service” and told the Housing Minister Kevin Stewart that the council has said that the money it gets from the Ending Homelessness Together fund is not enough given the scale of the task.

She said the council warned the money it gets is “significantly less” than what it needs to meet the targets it set in its ending homelessness plan.

She asked: “Does the minister recognise that, without sufficient funding, the homelessness crisis in Glasgow cannot be tackled effectively? Will the minister respond to Glasgow’s request? Will he accept that the persistent and disproportionate cuts to Glasgow City Council have had a massive impact on its ability to support vulnerable people?”

Mr Stewart detailed the level of funding Glasgow received as £301,000 to develop its rapid rehousing transition plan in 2018-19, and £1,332,000 to implement its plan in 2019-20.

In 2020-21, the government plans to award Glasgow £1,237,000, which Mr Stewart said will go towards the implementation of its transition plan.

He said: “Our policy to tackle homelessness in Scotland is much more than lip service” adding it had spent £50m to the fund across Scotland for rapid rehousing

He added: “We put the money where it was required, and we will continue to do that.”