MUSSELBURGH'S MSP Colin Beattie is urging eligible families in East Lothian to apply for this year’s Best Start Grant School Age Payment, as applications opened last week.

The payment, which is only available in Scotland, is open to families who get tax credits or certain other benefits and have a child who was born between 1st March 1, 2016, and February 28, 2017.

It is part of five family payments delivered by Social Security Scotland that also include: Best Start Foods, Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and Scottish Child Payment.

Best Start Foods payments are set to increase to £4.50 per week on August 1 to support low income families to buy healthy food for children under the age of three.

Mr Beattie, who also represents Midlothian North, said the Scottish Government was working to ensure every child in East Lothian had the best start in life.

He commented: "These payments – which have been described as ‘game-changing’ – form part of that effort to build a fairer, more equal Scotland.

"The Best Start payments have been vital in ensuring children in East Lothian and across Scotland have the best start in life, with around £5,000 of support being provided by the time a child turns six," he added.