CAN'T HEAT .. CAN'T EAT

CAB: Direct link between Scots struggling with fuel bills and facing toil to buy food

- CHRIS MCCALL

THERE is a "direct link" between Scots struggling to pay fuel bills and rising food insecurity, a leading charity has warned.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) said one in 10 of its clients who sought help over soaring energy payments also asked for help with meals, including food bank referral requests.

A quarterly report from the charity also found that in one in 10 cases where a client had sought help for debts, such as credit cards or store cards, they would also ask for help with crisis grants from the Scottish welfare funds.

CAS has backed calls for the UK Government to raise all benefits in line with inflation when Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announces his autumn budget on Thursday.