Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has taken to Twitter today (August 8) stating "action is needed now as the "cost of living crisis is worsening by the day."
The FM called for an emergency meeting with the Prime Minister and Heads of devolved Government Council as she urged the UK government to help.
In a letter by Ms Sturgeon, she urged the PM to move a proposed meeting between the heads of the UK’s Governments from September to this week.
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The reason for bringing it forward is said to be due to a "fast deteriorating" situation with bills rising as she states people cannot wait any longer. She wrote: “You suggested a first meeting of the Heads of Government Council to take place in September. I am sure you must recognise, the situation is fast deteriorating and many people across the UK simply cannot afford to wait until September for further action to be taken."
The meeting would allow leaders of the devolved governments and the UK Government to take action now and later come up with a long-term solution. The Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGoRR) will convene this week to discuss what steps can be taken to ease financial strain on households across Scotland.
She added: “I am therefore writing to seek an emergency meeting of the Heads of Government Council and propose that we, as leaders of our respective Governments, meet as soon as possible this week to discuss and agree urgent steps to help those in most need now, and also formulate a plan of action for the autumn and winter ahead.
"While we will continue to take all actions available to us within devolved responsibilities and budgets - the Scottish Government is investing almost £3 billion this year in a range of measures which will help address the cost of living pressures - it is a statement of fact that many of the levers which would make the biggest difference lie with the UK Government.
“It is also the case that only the UK Government can access and make available resources on the scale required. Therefore, actions by devolved governments alone - though important - will not be enough to meet the unprecedented challenges we face.
“Action is needed now to address significant gaps in help for households, in particular those on low incomes, who are increasingly vulnerable to the impact of rising household costs.
“However, it is also vital, given further increases to energy bills due to be announced later this month, that a substantial plan be developed now to avert and mitigate what will otherwise be a crisis of unprecedented proportions - a crisis in which many people will be unable to feed themselves and their families or heat their homes.
“While few will escape some impact of the cost of living crisis, these impacts are not being experienced evenly. That is why the focus must be on providing targeted support to those most adversely impacted, rather than an irresponsible reduction in broad-based taxes which will benefit the relatively better off over those most in need.
“The current crisis requires clear, focused and determined leadership and co-operation to develop and deliver - at pace - a package of interventions to protect those most impacted."
The First Minister's letter to the Prime Minister can be read in full online here.
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