SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson, John Mason MP, has rounded on the Labour Government following the publication of research commissioned by the BBC today (Monday) revealing that almost a third of Scottish households are breadline poor.

The study conducted by Sheffield University also revealed that Scotland had the largest number of poor people in each of the last four decades, as well as the highest death rate of all 14 regions examined. The study also revealed that, between 1990 and 2000 the number of people in Scotland classified as being breadline poor rose from 27% to 32%.

Mr Mason said: "These findings are nothing short of shameful, and show an absolute failure by Labour to tackle poverty.

"Under Labour we have seen the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

"The fact that the number of people living on the breadline actually increased between 1990 and 2000, and that now almost a third of Scottish households are breadline poor, is simply scandalous.

"As the recession now takes its toll it is more important than ever that the UK Government gets its act together and takes real action to help those caught in the poverty trap.

"It is clear that there has been a particular problem with the tax and benefits system which must be reformed to ensure that nobody is overlooked or trapped in a cycle of poverty.

"Labour have bent over backwards to bail out banks, and can find billions for Trident, the Iraq war, and ID cards.  It is about time Labour gave tackling poverty the same priority."