MINISTERS are being urged to act on a “scandalous detriment” which union leaders say has led to thousands of teachers being overtaxed, costing them tens of millions of pounds in total.

Education Institute of Scotland general secretary Andrea Bradley has written to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray, demanding he order councils to repay the overpaid tax.

The union says teachers in 16 local authority areas were incorrectly taxed at the Scottish higher rate of 42 per cent on back pay they received after strike action led to a 14 per cent pay rise over two years.