The Scottish Government has said that powers over the Westminster cap that is stopping them from helping people with the 'Bedroom Tax' will be transferred to Scotland.

The move will allow the cap to be lifted by the Scottish Government.

Housing help for those on benefits – known as Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) – is currently reserved to Westminster and administered by local authorities in Scotland, but this power will now transfer to Scotland.

The Scottish Government has already reached the previous legal limit in order to mitigate the effects of the 'Bedroom Tax', and once the powers are transferred, a total of £50m can be invested to help the 72,000 households in Scotland.

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Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said: "We had already set aside the money to be able to help every household in Scotland affected by the 'Bedroom Tax' – once we have the powers, we will be able to use it and provide vital assistance to thousands of hard-pressed Scots.

"I am delighted that in future anyone who has been affected by this unfair policy will receive the help they need and would encourage them to contact their Local Authority to apply for assistance through the DHP scheme.

"We will never turn our back on people in need, and I am pleased to finally be able to get on and help people. But the fact is that this decision has taken far too long. We have been pressing since January for Iain Duncan Smith to remove this cap – and at last Westminster has seen sense and have given us what we requested. We will now work to ensure the law is changed as quickly as possible."

(JP/IT)