ALMOST half of parents in Scotland are already finding it harder to pay their bills even before looming increases in energy prices take effect.

A survey carried out for a coalition of charities in November and December found that 46 per cent of parents said their bills were more difficult to afford.

The research also found that 47 per cent of parents were less able to save for the future than they were a year before.

About one in five parents in Scotland had also experienced a reduction in earnings (22 per cent) or working hours (18 per cent) over the last 12 months.

The survey, carried out before the Bank of England warned that Britain is facing the biggest fall in living standards since comparable records began three decades ago, has sparked concern that families who were just about managing will now be plunged into poverty.

Parenting across Scotland, a coalition of organisations that includes Children in Scotland, One Parent Families Scotland, Scottish Adoption and the Aberlour children’s charity, published the findings of the survey today.

Energy regulator Ofgem said that fuel bills in Britain will typically rise by £693 a year from April when it announced last week that it was raising the price cap on bills.

National insurance contributions are also set to rise that month, while the Bank of England has warned that inflation could leap to more than 7 per cent in the spring.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has promised all households a £200 discount on power bills in October, but it will have to be repaid over five years.

But Parenting across Scotland director Clare Simpson said that ministers at both Westminster and Holyrood must do more to help those struggling to get by.

She said: “It is clear that the proposed actions to address the cost-of-living increases are totally inadequate. Both Scottish and UK governments must take immediate targeted action to ensure help reaches those who need it."

A Treasury spokeswoman said that the UK government is providing support worth about £12 billion in this financial year and the next one to help families cope with the rising cost of living.

The Scottish government said that it had channelled £25 million to local authorities to tackle financial insecurity and a further £6m to third-sector partners to help low-income families.