WOMEN have been hit particularly hard by controversial cuts to benefits pushed through by the UK Government and are twice as dependent on social security payments as men, according to a cross-party committee of MSPs.

A report, published by Holyrood's Welfare Reform Committee, found that welfare changes had seen females disproportionately affected on multiple fronts, as they were more dependent on benefits due to factors including lower pay and insecure employment.

The Scottish Government warned that more women will likely to be pushed into poverty as a result of the Tory drive to axe a further £12 billion from its welfare budget.

Labour MSP Michael McMahon, convenor of the committee, said: "The evidence we have set out confirms the devastating impact on women of the UK Government's reforms to the social security system. Of particular concern is the cumulative impact on women hit by multiple benefits cuts, from child support to carer's allowance.

"The UK Government urgently needs to look at how women are being affected by these changes and we are also calling on the Scottish Government to look at the gender impact of their own policy decisions."

The group made a series of recommendations, including adopting an integrating approach to help women into work across health, housing and social care services. It also suggested new measures to close the gender pay gap and end segregation in certain jobs.

It has also called on the Scottish Government to use new powers over welfare, which are expected to be transferred to Holyrood following the Smith Commission agreement, to focus on mitigating the impact of welfare cuts on women. It indicated support for a move away from monthly and single household payments under Universal Credit, as a way of protecting women's financial autonomy.

SNP welfare minister Margaret Burgess said: "It is alarming to see that women have been disproportionately affected by the UK Government's benefits cuts and are twice as dependent on social security than men. I am deeply concerned that the UK Government's £12 billion cuts will only widen this gap.

"With our new powers we will create a fairer and simpler social security system that aims to tackle gender and other inequalities. However we need to know how the UK Government's cost cutting will affect benefits that are to be devolved."