“We can do better, and we will” – Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell
A progress report on child poverty to be published by the Scottish Government today sets out a different path to UK Government austerity. It’s thought that a new Family Income Supplement benefit, which was due to be introduced in 2022, will now be fast-tracked following pleas by Scottish charities.
Communities Minister Aileen Campbell will set out the Scottish Government’s plans today.
Scottish Government analysis has estimated that UK Government cuts to social security since 2010 would amount to £3.7 billion annually by 2020/21.
New analysis shows that the Scottish Government has invested over half a billion pounds in the last year alone. This has been targeted at supporting low income families across a wide range of policy areas.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty, Professor Philip Alston, laid the blame squarely on the UK Government for projected child poverty increases, stating this was ‘not just a disgrace, but a social calamity and an economic disaster, all rolled into one’.
Tackling child poverty is a key priority for the Scottish Government. In 2017, legislation was taken through the Scottish Parliament to set ambitious income targets to reduce child poverty.
Scotland already has lower child poverty and in-work poverty rates than the UK. Over the past year, the Scottish Government has spent more than £125 million on mitigating the worst impacts of UK austerity – including the bedroom tax.
However earlier this week over seventy charities and community groups wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urging the Scottish Government to introduce the Family Income Supplement now.
Sally Ann Kelly, CEO of the children’s charity Aberlour, said: “Waiting until 2022 is too late for many families who are struggling now and the 240,000 children living in poverty.
“Working with families across Scotland every day we see how many of them are at risk of falling deeper into financial hardship and being exposed to the worst effects of poverty and related toxic stress.
“The Scottish government must use the powers available to them before it’s too late.”
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell (above) said: “As the only country in the UK with ambitious income-based targets to eradicate child poverty, Scotland is firm in the belief that we can do better, and we will.
“That is why today I will set out to Parliament the progress we have made in the past year on child poverty and our next steps.
“Our actions stretch right across Government to help people on low incomes at every stage of life.
“From new devolved benefits offering support during pregnancy through to starting school, promoting the real living wage and ensuring everyone has a warm, secure place to call home we have a concerted and clear strategy.
“It is a long-term commitment to the people in Scotland who need the help the most.”
A full list of the actions – both planned and currently being delivered – is available in Every Child, Every Chance: The Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2018-22.
25
0
20
