NEW figures have revealed that 5,040 children in Inverclyde are being supported by Best Start Foods and Best Start Grant payments from the Scottish Government.

The Best Start Grant is comprised of three one-off payments and Best Start Foods is a prepaid card which can be used to buy healthy foods.

In the first six months of this year, payments worth £2.045m have been made to families in Inverclyde.

Stuart McMillan MSP said: “The Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods payments provide crucial support to families at key stages of their children’s lives, and it is excellent to see thousands of families in Inverclyde have benefitted.

“This is another demonstration of the SNP Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty, now automatically accompanying the Scottish Child Payment following last year’s increase to £25.

“This kind of vital support for families in Inverclyde is another indication of what is possible with full social security powers – it’s time for Scotland to have the full powers of an independent nation so that we can build a fairer, more prosperous country.”