Big rise in Glasgow council tax rebates since lockdown

Official figures show that in March 2020 there were 87,580 claims for a rebate in the city.

Six months later, in September, that has increased by more than 6400 to 93,980.

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The sharp rise followed a steady decline form 2013/14 when the number of households claiming a rebate was more than 100,000 in Glasgow.

The official government figures showed that across Scotland there were nearly half a million people are currently in receipt of council tax reductions.

A total of 496,580 had claimed a council tax reduction.

Nationally there was a similar pattern, of a long, steady and sustained decline since 2013/14 followed by a steep rise last march.

Scottish Labour said it was proof that more action was needed to protect people’s incomes as Scotland looks to move towards economic recovery once the covid pandemic is finally over.

It said that around 300,000 were still on furlough and facing a precarious future.

Daniel Johnson , Scottish Labour’s finance spokesman, said: “With hundreds of thousands of Scots furloughed or unemployed and struggling to make ends meet, the Scottish Government must pull out all the stops to protect family finances.

“The financial wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of Scots is on the line and the SNP’s jobs plan is simply not fit for purpose.

“During the campaign, Labour set out a clear vision to protect and retain jobs including a programme to provide every young or long-term unemployed Scot a job or training opportunity.

“The scale of the current crisis demands this level of ambition.

“Scottish Labour is calling on the SNP to work with us in the national interest to protect family finances and build a fairer and more productive economic recovery.”

In her Priorities for Government statement earlier this week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced measures that were designed to boost and protect household incomes among those with lower incomes.

It included measures on the Scottish child payment and on council tax for younger people.

Sturgeon said: “We will increase the school clothing grant and the Best Start Food grant.

“And before we formally expand the Scottish Child Payment next year, and prepare to double its value, we will provide interim support for eligible children– including a £100 payment near the start of the summer holidays.

“To support young adults, during this parliament, we will raise the age at which people become liable for council tax from 18 to 22.”