MSP CLAIRE Baker, has called for council budgets throughout the region to be protected by the Scottish Government. The call comes ahead of the Finance Secretary’s budget statement today (Thursday).

According to the Kelty born Scottish Labour MSP, further budget cuts to local authorities will risk deepening child deprivation in local communities.

Certain councils throughout Scotland have already proposed shutting down breakfast clubs, and stopping all non-statutory childcare as they look to deal with shrinking budgets.

According to Scottish Government statistics 33.8% of children in Fife, 29.8% in Clackmannanshire, 25.9% in Stirling and 24.2% in Perth and Kinross are in material deprivation.

A family is deemed to live in material deprivation when they cannot afford three or more items from a list of 22 necessities. These include a child receiving pocket money, access to a computer and internet for homework, a warm winter coat and the household having enough money to repair/replace broken electrical goods and having a damp free home.

Commenting ahead of the budget statement, mid Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker said: “We know the impact that austerity is having on our communities and on families, this is real cuts to real local services.

"Whilst this is being initiated by the Conservative Government at Westminster it is being passed on to our local authorities by the SNP Government in Holyrood.

“This means the real threat of vital services being closed down and even more children falling into material deprivation.

“As we head into Christmas there are far too many families across Mid Scotland and Fife that are still having to rely on foodbanks.

“Yet, with the upcoming budget statement we have the change to change that.

“The Scottish Government must use Holyrood’s powers to protect the funding of vital local services and stop Tory austerity.”

Scottish finance Minister, Derek MacKay said on Monday that he planned to deliver a package that would ensure that services in Scotland would be maintained.