“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. Continue reading Eradicating Child Poverty: Minister to outline next steps
Children and families will benefit from £3 million in funding to deliver community-based out-of-school care, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell has announced. Continue reading New fund for after school and holiday childcare
The Scottish government risks missing its child poverty targets by some distance as poverty levels are set to rise rather than fall over the next five years, according to new analysis published by the Resolution Foundation. Continue reading Child poverty levels ‘on course to rise substantially’
Increasing family incomes and reducing living costs will be prioritised through the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, Communities Secretary Angela Constance has announced. Local MSP Ben Macpherson has welcomed the government’s plan. Continue reading Delivery plan reinforces Holyrood commitment to tackling child poverty
Independent analysis due to be published alongside the Scottish Government’s first Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan shows the extent of damage caused by UK Government welfare cuts. The analysis outlines projections of child poverty rates in Scotland on the basis of announced tax and benefit changes, and the consequent increases in poverty levels. Continue reading Families in crisis: the worst is still to come, says Angela Constance
“Tackling inequalities will never be an optional extra for this government – it is core to everything we do, as we strive to make Scotland fairer and more equal.” – Communities Secretary Angela Constance Continue reading Constance reaffirms commitment to tackling child poverty
Scotland is set to become the only part of the UK with statutory targets to tackle child poverty after the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill was unanimously passed by the Scottish Parliament today. Continue reading Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill passes final stage
A Bill to tackle child poverty has been unanimously approved at its first stage by the Scottish Parliament. Continue reading Child Poverty Bill crosses first hurdle
Proposed targets for addressing child poverty in Scotland are to be scrutinised by Scottish Parliament’s Social Security Committee as it begins its examination of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill. Continue reading Child poverty targets under scrutiny at Holyrood
The UK Government’s austerity agenda, continuing welfare cuts, and economic uncertainty caused by Brexit are the key challenges to eradicating child poverty, Equalities Secretary Angela Constance has said. Ms Constance, who will introduce a child poverty bill to Holyrood this week, said the action being taken to tackle inequalities and end child poverty in Scotland has never been more important.
Findings in a report published by the Resolution Foundation last week show that over the remainder of the UK Parliamentary term typical households will see almost no income growth and poorer households will experience a fall in income.
Ms Constance said: “No child should grow up in poverty. All of our children deserve the best opportunities in life that we can offer them, which is why tackling the issue is a key priority for this government.
“Our Child Poverty Bill to be published this week will be a crucial step forward – it will set statutory targets to reduce child poverty and establish a framework for measuring, monitoring and reporting on child poverty. It will also require long-term delivery plans to tackle the deep-rooted causes, and for Ministers to report annually on progress. Scotland will also now be the only part of the UK with statutory income targets on child poverty.
“UK Government budget cuts, austerity measures, and welfare cuts, and scrapping of income-based child poverty targets are leading to huge social harm, and the poorest and most vulnerable in society shouldering the brunt.
“Withdrawal from the EU and the single market also poses a threat to living standards, job prospects, and income levels of people and communities across Scotland.
“It is completely unacceptable that families are facing such hardship and children are growing up in poverty. I am clear that preventing the next generation of young people being born into poverty is vital and we will work tirelessly across government and with the public, private and voluntary sectors to address this.
“That is why our Fairer Scotland Action Plan includes several cross-Government measures to tackle child poverty – and we will use all options the new social security powers give us to make a difference.
“We are spending £100 million a year mitigating the worst of UK Government cuts, funding we should be able to use to lift people out of poverty.
“So it is absolutely clear that we are taking a range of actions to ensure that children in Scotland have a bright future ahead of them; but we do that in the face of a callous and uncaring UK government which has never put the needs of the people of Scotland on their to do list.”
