WOMEN in Scotland are more likely than men to be at risk of being driven into poverty by public debt collection, new research shows. 

The Glasgow University report published today, commissioned by Aberlour Children’s Charity, One Parent Families Scotland, and Trussell, reveals women are more likely to face financial hardship because of how national agencies and local authorities recoup arrears.

Detailed analysis of the anonymised records of 71,000 people seeking debt advice in Scotland revealed 57 per cent were women.

The report, titled The Gendered Impact Of Public Debt, also shows women owe the most in public debt, like council tax and rent.

Caring responsibilities can often mean reduced income, less financial resilience and greater risk of poverty, while deductions from benefits to pay arrears often makes difficult household budgets impossible, the research suggests.

Justina Murray, Aberlour chief executive, said public authorities should treat arrears as an “emergency flare” as a signal to intervene and not make things worse.

She said: “We have known for some time how the pursuit and collection of public debt inflicts further financial harm on some of our poorest families.

“This important research confirms that impact is felt most often by women and most often by those caring for children or other family members.

“It is clearly embedded in the lives of low-income women, deepening the inequalities they already face.

“There are far better, more humane, and less destructive ways to collect, or cancel, this kind of debt.”

Aberlour said it fears deducting money from benefits to collect arrears is pushing many families into poverty.

The research revealed £221 million is deducted from payments for just one benefit, universal credit, each year in Scotland.

Professor Morag Treanor of the University of Glasgow said: “Public debt does not come in isolation but most often arrives alongside other hardships and inequalities.

“Our understanding of its impact must become far stronger and shape effective policies to ease those inequalities.

“This research confirms public debt is part of our country’s poverty crisis and can only be addressed as part of that crisis.”

Food insecurity charity Trussell said “nearly everyone” referred to one of its food banks is dealing with arrears.

The Scottish government has been approached for comment.