COUNCILS including Glasgow and Inverclyde have received a Government apology after a Whitehall blunder saw them promised more cash than they are now getting to plug a 'Bedroom Tax' funding gap.

Inverclyde Council says it will be forced to dip into its emergency reserves to cover the "shortfall" in Discretionary Housing Payment which was meant to off-set the effects of the so-called Bedroom Tax.

The payments from the Department of Work and Pensions were calculated last year but now the DWP says it has discovered an "error" and ­revised the figures.

Glasgow City Council said it was seeking clarification from the UK Government on the ­implications for its spending commitments.

That came after Inverclyde council's policy and resources committee heard that the Strategy Director of the DWP had written to the council's Chief Executive to apologise.

Labour-run Inverclyde says it means the shortfall of nearly £118,000 over two years starting in 2014 will be covered by the council from its own reserves.

The report to councillors said: "The DWP have made an error in the distribution of the funding of DHP support within Scotland and six Local Authorities of which Inverclyde Council is one will receive a reduction in funding.

"The DWP will honour the payments in 2013/14 however the fact is that from 2014/15, the council will receive a reduction of more than £58,000 (29%)."

Inverclyde's Council leader Stephen McCabe said: "This error from the DWP is very disappointing.

"The money the council ­received was already low and this will be a major blow to ­local people who rely on this fund. The council will now write to the DWP to express our deep concern.

"The council's reserves will be used to fund the gap made by this error."

Inverclyde says its budget for 2014/15 will be reduced by the DWP by 28% or £58,800. Over the next two financial years that amounts to £117,600.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "Glasgow has been notified by the DWP of this situation. We still have a number of unanswered questions about what this means for Glasgow."

A DWP spokesman said: "Some councils had their DHP funding incorrectly calculated this year. No council will have to cover any shortfall, as we are making up the difference for who would have received less and allowing those who had extra cash, to keep it."

The other councils affected are Argyll and Bute, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders Council.