The Deputy First Minister has accused Labour of “empty rhetoric” on the ‘bedroom tax’.
She was speaking after rejecting a plea for emergency legislation as a result of controversial benefit reforms.
The Scottish Government has already told councils and housing associations that tenants affected by changes to housing benefit “should be protected from eviction”, Nicola Sturgeon said.
From Monday, 100,000 people face their benefit payment being cut under Westminster reforms because they are deemed to have additional rooms in their home.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: “Will the cabinet secretary act in the interests of all of Scotland’s tenants? Will she forgo her holiday and return to this chamber during recess to pass emergency legislation?
“In so doing, she will then protect 100,000 vulnerable Scots affected by the bedroom tax who need our help now.”
Ms Sturgeon replied: “Labour’s rhetoric on the bedroom tax is therefore exposed as empty by their actions at local level and at Westminster where they have failed to give any commitment to scrap the tax.
“We believe the approach we are taking is the right and sensible one and, in line with existing legislation, we expect the same sensitive approach to be taken to tenants getting into financial difficulty as a result of other aspects of welfare changes.”