AN Edinburgh MSP has welcomed an announcement that 500,000 Scots will be protected against UK Government cuts to council tax benefit. 

Gordon MacDonald, who represents Edinburgh Pentlands for the SNP, said the move, revealed by First Minister Alex Salmond last week, would protect the most vulnerable.

Mr Salmond said a “£40 million shortfall” in council tax benefit would be funded over the next year. It is proposed that £23m will be found by the Scottish Government while £17m will be covered by local authorities. More than 40,000 people in Edinburgh claim council tax benefit.

Mr MacDonald said: “I am pleased to see that both the Scottish Government and local authorities will work together to protect the vulnerable in Scotland against the Conservative-led and LibDem supported cuts.”

THE SCOTSMAN