ALMOST 3000 children in Glasgow would be hit by UK Government plans to scrap housing benefit for under 25s.

Figures show that around 20,000 children in families with parents under 25 in Scotland would be affected and Glasgow would have the highest number of those losing out.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a Glasgow MSP has contacted the UK Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith requesting a meeting to discuss the implications for young families in Scotland should the policy go ahead.

Official Department of Work and Pension figures show in Scotland there is estimated to be more than 32,000 under 25s who would be affected by the removal of housing benefit. There are more than 16,000 who are living in a family situation and more than 20,000 children are in the household.

In Glasgow the number of children is 2770, the highest in the country, followed by Fife with 1672 and North Lanarkshire with 1549. A Scottish Government expert working group on welfare is looking into how the benefits system could be reformed to help those who can work return to a job and also support those who care unable to work.

It is expected to report in the spring.