A total of 12 local authorities in Scotland have been awarded extra money for special housing payments, including Moray Council.

The UK Government has earmarked £3.5m to the dozen authorities to offset the effects of the so-called bedroom tax, with Moray's share being £182,000.

Scottish Office Minister David Mundell said the new money was in recognition of the problems faced by rural councils where it is more difficult for tenants to move to smaller properties.

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Moray Council leader Allan Wright welcomed the additional funds.

He said: "This comes on top of our already announced share of transitional funding under welfare changes and also the ability to bid into a new £20m fund for special cases, details of which have yet to be announced."

The additional money will be used to award discretionary housing payments to support housing benefit claimants affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy.

(JP/CD)