Scotland’s business minister has blamed “continuing austerity” for a sharp rise in personal insolvencies.

The last quarter saw insolvencies rise year-on-year by 17.3% to 2,839, according to official figures.

Paul Wheelhouse claimed there was “no question” austerity had led to “more people suffering the anxiety and distress of insolvency”.

The Scottish Conservatives called on the Scottish government to do more to help people deal with personal debt.

Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB), which administers the process of bankruptcy and records corporate insolvencies, said personal bankruptcies increased by 1…

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