The Church of Scotland has called for reform of the tax and mental health welfare systems to tackle rising numbers of people suffering from benefit sanctions, low wages and dependence on foodbanks.

Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, convener of the Church and Society Council, said families, young people and those with mental health problems are being disproportionally penalised by welfare changes.

She called on the UK Government to stop using hunger as a punishment and immediately suspend sanctions for people with children or suffering from mental ill health while it conducts a full independent review.

Ms Foster-Fulton also set out reports from the Church and Society Council on compulsory treatment of people suffering mental health problems, assisted suicide and environmental issues including fracking, or shale gas extraction.

The Church backed a review in mental health care and supported the broader provision of palliative care for terminally ill patients.

The annual gathering of the more than 700 commissioners including ministers, elders and deacons, is being presented with a separate report on fracking that "explores the environmental and economic issues for and against in more detail".

Youth Assembly Moderator designate Hannah Mary Goodlad, 25, of Shetland, who is a geologist and works for an energy company, said: "Oil will play a huge part (in future energy needs) but oil companies need to start to realise that when the world is moving from fossil fuels available they'll be looked to for the next source of energy."

The Church and Society report on mental health said: "While we do not believe that compulsory treatment is always a breach of human rights, we recognise the value of working with people experiencing mental health problems and the contribution good relationships (reflecting human rights) can make to treatment. Coercion may sometimes be necessary but is always to be approached with reluctance.

"We would strongly urge that this (Scottish Government) wider review take place, and include the issues highlighted here along with a recognition that good legislative policies need appropriate resources to implement them."

The report said on assisted suicide: "No amount of 'safeguards' will ever be able completely to prevent abuse of a law which allows the deliberate ending of the life of another person.

"The current law, through its acceptance that some may wish to take their own lives, but its blanket prohibition of assisting another person to attempt or complete suicide, is clear, and provides a strong disincentive to abuse and exploitation whilst allowing prosecutors and judges discretion in hard cases.

"It does not, in our opinion, need changing."

Ms Fulton added: "We are challenging the stigma of poverty, confronting the dangerous rhetoric that blames the poor for their poverty dismissing them as strivers and skivers, enjoying a benefits lifestyle.

"These unfair definitions divide and diminish us all and pit us one against the other.

"We become suspicious rather than supportive. We need justice, not judgment."

The council has been at the forefront of raising concerns about the continued detention of asylum seekers at Dungavel, and is calling on people to support a planned protest at the centre on May 30.

Ms Foster-Fulton said "We continue to press the Home Office to allow a visit to see conditions for ourselves. Our decency as a society is predicated on how we treat the imprisoned and the stranger."

Meanwhile, 74 commissioners have signed a notice of "dissent" over the Kirk's acceptance of gay clergy in civil partnerships, which is not actionable but shows there is a "strong feeling against" the move, said Rev Mike Goss, of the Covenant Fellowship Scotland.