WITH the new financial year starting this week, many thousands of people are already being hit by the 'bedroom tax' – the cut to housing benefit for tenants in council and housing association properties which are deemed too big for their needs.

Despite a huge campaign of opposition, countless examples of the pain and injustice this policy will cause, and clear evidence that it won't save the money it's supposed to, the Tory/LibDem govern-ment at Westminster has refused to back down.

Last week the Evening Times reported on Glasgow Housing Association's fears that some of their tenants may be forced to go without food or heating because of the UK Government's action.

GHA wants to prevent some of that harm by investing in one-bedroom flats, which will need to be bought on the open market if they are to be available in time.

It's a far from perfect solution, and pressure must be kept up for the Tories and LibDems to admit they have got it wrong.

I believe the welfare system is one of the most important aspects of UK control which must be brought to Scotland, and it's not only independence supporters who think so.

Polls show that many people planning to vote against independence still want the Scottish Parliament to make decisions on welfare.

A No vote would leave us unable to make those decisions in Scotland for perhaps another decade, and who knows what will be left of the welfare state after the Tory/LibDem government has had its way.

But that's no excuse not to act right now with the powers we do have. The Scottish Government could – and should – respond to the 'bedroom tax' by preventing evictions, making funds available to cover the shortfall for social housing, and increasing investment in new homes for rent.

We also need to recognise that some tenants renting from private landlords are even worse off.

Like any other business there are good and bad landlords out there. But there is little protection against those who exploit or harass tenants, no controls on rent levels, no minimum standards for energy efficiency, and often no security of tenure. Once again, it's action in the Scottish Parliament that's needed.

FINALLY this week, I was astonished to read that Glasgow has been shortlisted as Green capital of Europe.

I'm all for talking up our city's strengths, but Green capital it is certainly not.

With a dismal public transport system, next to nothing in the way of cycle lanes, appalling air pollution, a long history of poor rates of recycling, and an economy that seems ever more focused on a wasteful consumerist treadmill, we've got a long way to go if we want to claim prizes for Greener living.

The council could start by standing up for residents trying to safeguard the city's green spaces, such as the North Kelvin Meadow campaigners, who take their protest to George Square on Thursday, instead of threatening them with unwanted development while chasing international prizes.