A Scottish Housing charity has slammed Holyrood’s 45% cut to the social housing budget, branding it a "knockout punch" to low-income families.

Shelter Scotland has said cuts in Scotland and UK welfare reforms could condemn many people across Scotland to poverty and ill health.

Speaking ahead of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee, Gordon MacRae, Head of Communications and Policy at Shelter Scotland, said: "Across Scotland 157,700 families and individuals are stuck on housing waiting lists, while 22,000 children wake up every morning with no place to call home.

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"Despite this the Scottish Government has proposed a devastating 45% cut to the social housing budget which will only make it harder for families to access safe, secure and affordable housing and condemn some to a life of poverty and ill health."

"The combination of these housing cuts and the UK government's attack on welfare is a knockout punch to the aspirations of low income families across Scotland in need of a secure and affordable home."

Mr MacRae added: "This could have been a budget that takes us closer to realising a Scotland where everyone has a secure affordable place to call home.

"Instead housing is being raided to pay for other expensive projects resulting in house building being cut by 45% whilst the overall cut to capital budgets is only 33%.

"We hope Ministers will recognise the transformative role of housing to our communities and reverse these devastating cuts," he added.

(IT)