Milngavie MSP Des McNulty and Bearsden MSP David Whitton want Alex Salmond to continue Labour's policy of exempting churches and other small charities.

Currently charities with a turnover of less than £50,000 a year do not have to pay water rates. However, this exemption period is coming to an end and many charities and voluntary organisations are being put under threat.

In response to an SNP consultation on whether the scheme should be extended, Mr Whitton wrote: "There are so many local organisations and voluntary groups across EDC that are making a very valuable contribution to our community, it is essential that the government show its support for their hard work and dedication.

"In Bearsden local churches like New Kilpatrick and Bearsden Cross would struggle to find the cash if they were forced to pay these rates again.

"Many of them have written to me to say how concerned they are about this financial blow which will hit them a couple of years down the line."

Mr McNulty said: "I put forward the original proposal for these vital organisations to be exempted seven years ago and I believe that it's now time for it to be put on a permanent footing at a cost of £2.5million for the whole of Scotland. I hope that the SNP government will listen and take action immediately.

"Small organisations have very little income and if they were forced into paying water rates it could be the difference between staying in operation or being forced to close.

"It is wrong that some of these great organisations could be forced to consider their futures over the issue of water rates. Many charities just don't know how they could raise the extra cash to keep going."