A new poll has found that six-in-ten Scots are worried about affording their bills this year including mortgage repayments, monthly rent, and energy costs.

The Survation poll for Scotland’s national advice charity, Advice Direct Scotland, also revealed that 17 per cent of those with debt have fallen behind in their repayments.

Energy bills, credit cards, and council tax arrears were selected as the most common forms of debt for those in this situation.

Commenting on the poll’s findings, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“This polling underlines that the impact of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is leaving more and more Scots struggling to make ends meet and falling into greater debt.

“Governments at Westminster and Holyrood are more interested in their own internal wrangles than dealing with the crisis. They’re both missing in action when the country desperately needs real political leadership.

“The Tories must waste no more time delivering a real windfall tax on oil and gas giants and extending the freeze on energy bills to give households the extra support they need.

“Every level of government must be relentlessly focused on ramping up the help available to those struggling with this crisis and drowning in debt.”

The findings come as Advice Direct Scotland launches a new campaign across social media and in newspapers to promote its free independent debt advice service, moneyadvice.scot.

Specialist debt and money advisers can work with people to assess their current situation, look at their income and outgoings, and consider what to do next. This includes assessing that people are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to.

The free service can be contacted via the website www.moneyadvice.scot or on 0808 196 2316.