Since Personal Independence Payments (PIP) have been brought in to replace Disability Living Allowance as the main benefit for disabled or ill people, some 30,000 people have been put through re-testing.

These claimants have had to prove in face-to-face meetings that they are deserving enough, disabled enough, to carry on claiming benefits.

The shocking figures of the number of re-tests has been revealed by Freedom of Information requests by Scottish Labour.

Now we need some transparency on how many people have had their benefit reduced or stopped altogether as a result of these “callous” re-testing procedures carried out by private sector contractors.

Scottish Labour social security spokesman Mark Griffin blasted the DWP

Disability campaigners say that people are being put through frequent and totally unnecessary reviews in order to receive what is rightly theirs.

Instead of putting the needs of the claimants at the centre of the system, it has been devised to save money and cut benefits.

The Scottish Government are taking over the administration of some benefits when it is up to speed to do so.

When it does, our Government in Edinburgh needs to make the system a humane one, not one that kicks claimants when they are down.

Reject hate that hides in shadows

A Sikh temple was damaged during a petrol bomb attack in Edinburgh

Scotland, at its best, is a vibrant inclusive country where different beliefs and creeds are accepted and valued.

The petrol bomb attack on a Sikh temple in Edinburgh is a reminder of what lurks in the shadows.

It is bad enough a place of worship is targeted in such a way but it is made doubly so when you consider the role the Gurdwara plays in the Leith area.

Each week volunteers from the temple feed hundreds of locals for free. It is a warm and generous gesture from people who make a difference in their community.

Hopefully, the police find the perpetrators of the Leith temple attack and bring them to justice.

But in the meantime, we can all play our part by rejecting racism and bigotry wherever it is found.

Write you aren’t

Irvine Welsh thinks people with their whole life ahead of them should be given the vote

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh wants to ban over 55s from voting.

Older voters did swing the Brexit referendum in favour of Leave so his plan might have some merit.

But we reckon there’s no substitute for experience so stick to the day job, Irvine.