One in 10 adults in Scotland admit they have debts or owe money that they have not told their partner about.

When asked whether they owed any cash to friends and family, or through credit cards, payday or personal loans or other borrowings, that they had not disclosed to their other half 13% of Scots in a couple admitted they did. This is equivalent to more than half a million people across the country.

While some respondents are concealing debts of less than £100, many have borrowed far more without telling their significant other. 57% revealed they owe more than £2,500, while 26% owe over £5,000.

Across the UK, the equivalent of 5.4 million people admitted they are concealing debts from their partner. This was most apparent among the younger generations, with a quarter (25%) of 25 to 34 year olds who are in a relationship revealing they have secret debts, compared to just over one in 20 (6.7%) over-55 year olds.

Ian Williams, spokesman for Debt Advisory Centre Scotland, said: “It is very common for people to conceal borrowings, especially if they are struggling to repay all of it. In fact, in some cases when clients speak to one of our debt advisors we can often be the first people they’ve told about their debt problem.

“A key concern for clients is whether people will find out they are on a debt solution – and in many cases there’s no need for anybody else to know.”