New figures showing the impact of financial help for funeral expenses have been welcomed by a Renfrewshire MP. The statistics published by the Scottish Government show over 400 families in Renfrewshire have benefited from the Scottish Funeral Support Payment since its introduction in September 2019. The benefit replaced the DWP’s Funeral Expense Payment when powers over some social security benefits were transferred to Holyrood in 2019. A total of £22.4 million has gone to fa

A Renfrewshire MP has slammed plans by the UK Government to stop supplying free covid tests. Reports in several outlets this week suggest that the UK Government plans to end the provision of free lateral flow tests in the near future, possibly as soon as next month. Senior scientific advisers have expressed concern about the plans, with the government’s own advisory group this month saying removing free tests will, “make it more difficult for people experiencing Covid-19 symp

The roll-out of a cash payment for carers across Renfrewshire and Scotland has been hailed as a success by a local MP. The Carers Allowance Supplement was first introduced by the Scottish Government in September 2018 and gives a twice-yearly lump sum to anyone in Scotland who receives Carers Allowance. Carers in Renfrewshire have received a total of £6.2 million over that time with the most recent payment in October last year amounting to over £1.2 million alone. The suppleme

Parents in Renfrewshire are being urged to apply for Scottish Child Payment on the first anniversary of its roll out. The payment of £10 per week, unique to Scotland, began in February 2021 as a direct measure to tackle poverty. It provides regular, additional financial support to parents and carers to help with the costs of caring for a child. Since launch, the families of around 106,000 children across Scotland – including nearly 4,000 successful applications in Renfrewshir

Boris Johnson’s latest visit to Scotland should be his last as Prime Minister, says a Renfrewshire MP. The Prime Minister made a flying visit to the east coast on Monday as part of his day visit to Scotland. His last trip to Scotland in January 2021, in the middle of lockdown restrictions, sparked widespread criticism for taking a non-essential trip while such travel was banned for everyone else. This year’s journey came as news emerged of the PM being issued a questionnaire