Benefits claimants in Clacks are more likely to be punished by sanctions than any other part of the country, figures have revealed.

And Ochil and South Perthshire MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh has hit out at the UK Government following the publication of the numbers by the New Policy Institute (NPI).

Claimants in Clackmannanshire have the highest rate of sanctions in the country.

The figures show that 8.1 per cent of residents in Clackmannanshire claiming JSA are subject to sanctions each month. Clackmannanshire has a 17.2 per cent referral rate for sanctions.

Reacting to the figures, Ms Ahmed-Sheikh said: “Over the past week I’ve spoken to a number of constituents who have faced sanctions, and have told me about the terrible personal consequences of this situation.

"Jobseeker’s Allowance is a lifeline for those who are out of work. It pays their bills, puts food on the table and pays to power their houses. It also provides people with the means to look for work. Benefits sanctions can mean that claimants are left with no means at all to eat or heat their homes.

“They way this process is managed is riddled with administrative errors and subjective decision making. The devastating impact of sanctions are felt by individuals and families wherever they are in the country, but the huge difference between the rates at which sanctions are implemented across council areas shows that something is seriously wrong with the system itself.

“In my recent local surgeries I’ve spoken to a number of victims of this process, who have had their benefits cut without any proper process or support for what it means to them or their families.

“We need answers now from the UK Government about what action they intend to take to create a fair process for all claimants across Scotland.”