Unacceptable numbers of us already teetering on knife’s edge with one in six people in Scotland running out of food in past year, unable to afford to buy more, Trussell says
ANTI-poverty charity Trussell reports that 550,000 people across Scotland in 2026/27 – have so little to get by on that they are at risk of needing to use a food bank. Analysis from WPI Economics shows that this includes an increase of 25,000 people since 2024/25.
A survey conducted by Ipsos on Trussell’s behalf shows that unacceptable numbers of us are already living on a knife’s edge day-to-day, going without food and making impossible sacrifices, the charity says.
One in six (17%) people in Scotland said that their household had run out of food and couldn’t afford to buy more in the previous year, according to the new research, with certain groups such as disabled people and carers, more likely to go without.
The charity is calling on the Scottish Government to redouble its efforts to ensure more people in Scotland can afford at least the essentials, by acting in the Scottish Budget to increase the Scottish Child Payment to at least £40 a week with immediate effect.
New figures from Trussell show one in ten (10%) people in Scotland have had to cut back on food in the previous three months to afford other essentials like their housing costs, transport to work, or their heating.
Alarmingly, certain groups in Scotland, such as disabled people and carers, are more likely to go without.
Disabled people – 28% in Scotland had run out of food and couldn’t afford to buy more (compared to 13% of people who are not disabled)
Households with a disabled family member – 25% in Scotland had run out of food and couldn’t afford to buy more (compared to 12% with no disabled household member),
Carers – 26% in Scotland had run out of food and couldn’t afford to buy more (compared to 13% of those with no caring responsibilities)
The research also reveals that work is not protecting people from hardship – almost 1 in 5 (19%) working people in Scotland ran out of food and couldn’t afford to buy more.
In the Scottish Government’s Budget next month, Trussell is calling on the Scottish Government to reaffirm its commitment to ending the need for food banks in Scotland and update its action plan to deliver on this commitment.
The charity says it should start with getting more money into people’s pocket’s by boosting the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week with immediate effect and committing to a longer-term increase to £55 a week.
Cara Hilton, senior policy manager for Trussell in Scotland, said:“It’s devastating that half a million people in Scotland are at risk of needing to use a food bank. In every community, in every part of Scotland, people are skipping meals so their kids can eat, sitting freezing because they can’t afford money for the meter, feeling isolated and alone, not sure where to turn for support.
“Every day, people are pulling together across communities to make a difference – donating and getting emergency food to neighbours and providing advice and support so that people don’t need to turn to a food bank in the future. But together we can and must go further, particularly as prices rise once more.
“If we’re going to build the fairer Scotland we all want to see, we need politicians to take the heartbreaking scale of hunger in Scotland seriously. We need to invest now in a better future for children and for Scotland.
“The First Minister must renew the SNP’s promise to end the need for food banks in Scotland and take strong action in the Scottish Budget, to make sure more people in Scotland can afford the essentials and all children have a decent start in life.”
Pam from East Dunbartonshire, a former police officer who has been supported by a food bank, said:“Having had a career serving the community where I witnessed poverty and hardship on a daily basis, I didn’t ever believe I’d be on the other side of that fence. You never know what curveballs life will throw at you, though.
“We desperately need a society where if you trip and fall, there will be someone or something there to catch you rather than what happens now where a charity has to step in and help you pick up the pieces after you break.”
Fiona Dalgleish, manager of Peeblesshire Foodbank, said:“It’s not right that anyone in Scotland doesn’t have enough money to live on. Every week, our wonderful staff and volunteers provide a lifeline through emergency food parcels and practical support to everyone who needs it.
“We’re really worried about winter. We are doing everything we can to support people in our communities as the colder months close in. But the rising cost of food and energy will make it even harder for us to keep services running.
“Keeping the lights on and spaces open costs money, which is why any support you can give, whether that’s donating food or funds, will make a real difference.”
Energy costs lowered as home heating oil tariffs removed and 0% VAT on household electricity extended.
Growth backed with investments in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The Scottish Government will have an additional £600 million for public services.
Families and businesses in Scotland will get breathing space from action announced in Budget 2026.
Against a backdrop of global uncertainty, rising energy costs and pressure on household finances, Chancellor John Healey has taken action on the cost of living, fuel prices, and local jobs — alongside more funding for the Scottish Government to provide public services.
In the Budget, John Healey announced:
Support with energy bills: The removal of the 4% tariff on kerosene will support the 142,000 Scottish households that rely on heating oil. The UK government will extend 0% VAT on household electricity bills for three months, to 30 June 2027, while a Debt Relief Scheme will write off crisis-era debt for eligible households.
Fuel: the extension of the 5p cut to fuel duty for a further six months until 30 June 2027. The 3.7p cut to red diesel duty continues, which matters for farmers, rural hauliers and other fuel-heavy users across Scotland. He also announced a permanent increase to the generosity of mileage rates to support those who drive for work.
Food prices: Tariffs axed on over 100 food products, including chocolate and fruit juice. Combined with tariff suspensions earlier this year, this will save households up to £21 annually.
Pensions: by the end of this Parliament, 93,000 low-income pensioners in Scotland will pay less tax or none at all on their income, as a result of reducing the disproportionate administrative burden of paying small amounts of tax.
Wages: Increasing the National Living Wage by 3.9% to £13.21 per hour and the National Minimum Wage by 3.9% to £11.27 per hour for 18 to 20-year-olds and by 3.9% to £8.31 per hour for 16 to 17-year-olds and eligible apprentices. An estimated 180,000 workers in Scotland saw a direct pay rise following April 2026’s increase to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage.
Backing growth in Scotland
The establishment of a new Energy Wealth Fund to support Scottish clean energy jobs way into the future.
£18 million will fund a UK Advanced Chip Design Academy led by the University of Edinburgh, building on Scotland’s strengths in advanced technology.
£6 million will expand Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus (SEC), subject to business case, allowing the venue, which hosted COP26 and the Commonwealth Games, to go bigger and better.
£20 million will see the creation of two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in the East and West of Scotland.
Extending duty suspensions for 350 goods to help businesses in the chemicals, plastics, hydrogen, automotive and food and drinks sectors.
The Budget strengthens Britain’s national security by fully funding the £15 billion Defence Investment Plan, including £4.7 billion that was previously unfunded. Defence spending supports 12,200 industry jobs in Scotland, up 7% from 2025.
Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander, said: “This is a budget that puts money back in the pockets of Scottish households, backs businesses, and puts Scotland firmly at the heart of the UK government’s plan for growth and reindustrialisation.
“We’re helping families tackle the cost of living by cutting the standing charges from gas bills, saving households around £45 a year, then looking to remove them altogether. We’re also extending the VAT cut on energy bills, as well as removing the tariff on heating oil.
“But we’re not just easing the pressure today, we’re building Scotland’s future. £18 million for a semiconductor manufacturing research centre at the University of Edinburgh, £6 million to expand the Scottish Event Campus and grow on the legacy of COP26. That’s creating jobs and good growth in every postcode.
“There’s a boost for Scotland’s public services too, with an extra £600 million for the Scottish Government to spend.”
Funding for public services
The Scottish Government’s main source of funding comes through the block grant. This includes money collected from taxpayers across the UK – including from people in Scotland – which is then available for the Scottish Government to spend on devolved services. The Scottish Government also raises its own revenue, through the Scottish Rate of Income Tax, and non-domestic rates on businesses, for example.
Spending Review 2025 provided the Scottish Government with their largest spending review settlements in real terms since devolution in 1998, receiving an average of £50.9 billion per year between 2026-27 and 2028-29.
Changes in the devolution roadmap may have an impact on the funding of the devolved governments. Our approach to fiscal devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is already well established, however, we will engage with devolved governments on any implications for their budgets in the usual way to ensure they continue to be funded to deliver a comparable policy offer.
The Scottish Government has at least 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK. The higher amount reflects that providing services across Scotland genuinely costs more. This means that for each £1 of equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK, the Scottish Government has at least £1.20 to spend per person in Scotland.
The Scottish Government will receive an additional £600 million, on top of an additional £1.7 billion from Budget 2025 and Spring Forecast 2026.
Ian Murray MP – the MP for Edinburgh South – has welcomed cost of living support for families as the Labour Government announced its Budget today.
John Healey’s Budget provides breathing space for families by extending the cut to fuel duty and the removal of VAT from household energy bills.
It also sets out a plan to abolish gas standing charges, which will save the majority of households an average of £45 a year.
The Budget provides an additional £600mn for Scottish public services, meaning that the Scottish Government have received over £18bn in extra resources since Labour came to power in July 2024.
Across Scotland, Labour also announced it was investing in the Edinburgh-Glasgow Central Belt, a key area for world-leading strengths as identified in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, through £6mn of new funding to expand Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus (subject to business case) and £18mn new funding for a UK Advanced Chip Design Academy led by the University of Edinburgh.
Ian Murray MP said: “These are Labour decisions: backing families and businesses today while building a stronger Britain for tomorrow.
“I know people are struggling with the cost of living. I see it every day in my constituency mailbag.
“That’s why we’re extending the cut to fuel duty and the removal of VAT from energy bills, and working to abolish gas standing charges.
“It’s also why the Chancellor announced a £100 energy support payment to households in Council Tax bands A – D in England.
“That money will be passed onto the Scottish Government via the Barnett Formula. It’s now over to them to ensure the support is passed onto households here in south Edinburgh and across Scotland.”
UK Budget delivers ‘real cut’ to Scotland’s funding
JENNY GILRUTH – Action on energy bills ‘falls short of what is needed’.
The UK Budget delivers a real terms cut in Scotland’s budget of around £650 million in 2027-28, the Deputy First Minister has warned.
Scotland’s resource block grant is set to reduce by 1.3% in real terms in 2027-28, equivalent to a reduction of around £550 million. Scotland’s capital budget will see a 1.5% real terms reduction in 2027-28, equivalent to around £100 million.
The Deputy First Minister also confirmed that the Scottish Government will ensure that households in Scotland benefit from the £100 payment for energy bills support.
Jenny Gilruth said that while any measures to bring down the cost of energy bills are welcome, the steps confirmed by the Chancellor today fall far short of what is required and do not meet the promises on which the UK Government came to office.
The Deputy First Minister said: “The Scottish Government’s budget will be cut by around £650 million next year – reducing the money we have to spend on public services and supporting people with the cost of living.
“The Prime Minister has previously claimed that he would respect devolution and the Scottish Government – but his actions do not match his words. Cutting Scotland’s budget shows that, yet again, we are being treated as an afterthought.
“The Scottish Government will ensure that households in Scotland will benefit from the one-off £100 payment for energy bill support, however, it is clear that the measures announced today fall far short of the action which is required. “
“Furthermore, this support does not come close to meeting the promises on which the UK Government came to office, including reducing energy bills by £300 which remain significantly higher than they were in July 2024. The UK Government has failed to meet the moment and has failed to keep its promise.
“It is also unacceptable that there was no announcement about ending wider austerity policies which are pushing families into poverty like the bedroom tax, the benefit cap and “young parent penalty” in Universal Credit which would make a significant difference to tackling poverty.
“The Chancellor had the opportunity to lift thousands more families out of poverty, and he has chosen not to.
“We will now take the time to assess the full implications for Scotland of today’s statement.
“I will be announcing further details as part of the Scottish Budget on 3 December.”
Anti-poverty campaigners say Budget won’t share the wealth
The Poverty Alliance welcomed Budget moves to help people with rocketing energy bills – but warned they won’t go far enough to help people in fuel poverty.
Peter Kelly said: “There are nearly 750,000 households in Scotland who are in fuel poverty. The energy price cap today is £1,723, and in January it’s predicted to rise to nearly £2,000. In that context, a payment of £100 is welcome, but it won’t be enough for people who are already being pushed into debt and arrears.
“As well as looking at standing charges on energy bills, the UK Government must bring in a social tariff – making sure that no-one is hit with bills that they simply can’t afford to pay.”
Scotland’s anti-poverty network expressed disappointment at the lack of any major extra investment in social security.
Peter Kelly said: “We can’t expect people to build a life out of poverty on quicksand. When rates of Universal Credit and other social security payments are too weak to support people, it pushes them closer to destitution and makes it harder to build a better future.
“We hope that the forthcoming reviews into support for disabled people and young people have clear vision for improving financial security and investing in a stronger society for all of us.”
The Poverty Alliance also expressed disappointment over the Chancellor’s failure to tax wealth in the same way that work is taxed.
They had backed calls to equalise the way Government treats wealth and work, by bringing rates of Capital Gains Tax into line with Income Tax.
Tax Justice UK estimates the move could have raised £14 billion for the Treasury, with the Scottish Government getting over a billion pounds a year extra for its budget.
Peter Kelly said: “People are losing faith in politics because they feel that politicians aren’t working to meet their needs. Taxing wealth in the same way as work would bring in extra resources that we could invest in building a better future, and a more just and compassionate society.
“We all rely on social security and local services being there when we need them – and for people who are pushed into poverty, they are an essential lifeline.
“The money raised from fairer taxes on wealth could have been used to take more children out of poverty.”
STUC: Budget provided sticking plasters when Scotland needs radical surgery
Reacting to the UK Government’s Budget, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:“We always knew exorcising the ghost of Thatcher and eradicating 40 years of neo-liberalism was going to be a tall order for the Chancellor and there are some welcome tricks in the Budget, but not enough to scare away fears of rising costs.
“Whilst this Budget offers some helpful sticking plasters on energy costs, cost-of-living support and food prices, it falls short of the radical surgery needed to fix the UK economy and support working-class communities. Perhaps most significantly, the Budget failed to set out the radical rewiring of the state and the end to neo-liberalism that the Prime Minister himself had promised.
“Payments to stave off the cold for those in targeted council tax bands are a good first step in lieu of bringing down wholesale energy bills and it is right that the Chancellor has listened to the calls of unions to tax the banks to fund this measure. However, bills are likely to rise far quicker than this payment can offset and we will continue to press the UK Government to go further and faster, given the ‘big four’ banks made £29 billion in the first six months of 2026 alone
“With an expected £600 million allocated to Scotland, Scottish Government ministers cannot credibly sit on their hands and plead poverty. The Scottish Government should urgently review its public sector cuts agenda in light of this Budget.
“Rewiring the state will take longer than just one Budget and changes to procurement rules which strengthen British jobs and domestic supply chains are to be welcomed.
“The commitments made on defence spending require further examination, but unions are clear that funding for defence cannot come from public sector efficiencies. Co-funding for Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) in both the east and west of Scotland is welcome and should help provide well-paid, unionised jobs.
“This Budget doesn’t yet offer the concrete reindustrialisation Scotland needs, nor the further devolved powers for our Parliament and local authorities that had been envisioned. The Prime Minister must work at pace to show that his words on ensuring communities are empowered from the bottom-up, rather than the top-down, were not hollow.
“Workers can ill afford any further delay to the hope that was promised to them.”
Responding to Chancellor John Healey’s Autumn Budget, Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age said:“Today’s Budget made some important commitments that will play a part in easing the financial burden on people of all ages, including those in later life that Independent Age supports.
“We’re pleased to see changes we’ve campaigned for, alongside older people on low incomes, including protecting the poorest pensioners from tax bills as their State Pension increases – a decision that will help current and future pensioners. And some support for energy customers to ease spiralling bills, including providing £100 directly to households in England’s higher council tax bands (A-D) through the Household Energy Payment scheme.
“However, some serious problems remain unaddressed. We believe the UK Government can go further to tackle key areas driving financial hardship across all generations. Every day we hear from older people on low incomes who are cutting back on food, living in cold homes, or skipping showers to keep their bills down. This is no way to live.
“Frozen Local Housing Allowance that keeps private renters of all ages stuck in poverty needs to be uprated to reflect the true cost of renting. We need long-term action to protect the poorest households from the frequent energy price shocks driving up bills with the introduction of a comprehensive and well targeted energy social tariff. And, to lift people out of water poverty, a single social tariff for water is needed across England and Wales to end the postcode lottery of support.
“We will continue to stand alongside older people on low incomes, and work with the UK Government to build on the positive steps taken today.”
Helen Barnard, director of policy and research at Trussell, said: “We are disappointed that the government has not acted today on one of the biggest pressures facing low-income renters.
“We welcome seeing the significant support provided for people’s energy bills, which will make a real difference as the colder months draw in. However, the decision to keep housing support for private renters on low incomes frozen is a misstep that will continue to drive people towards homelessness and to the doors of food banks.
“We know from our research that over half of private renters on low incomes in receipt of Local Housing Allowance to help pay their rent, have run out of food in the last 12 months and haven’t been able to afford more. Nobody should be forced to choose between paying the rent and putting food on the table. But for increasing numbers of UK renters this is already a bleak reality.
“If the Chancellor is serious about tackling the cost of living, the best test will be whether fewer people need to turn to a food bank because they can afford the essentials like rent, energy bills and toiletries.
“The government has already taken bold steps towards this, including by lifting the two-child limit, However, unless we see action to close the gap between support and essentials like rent, the UK government will fail to meet its manifesto promise to end the need for emergency food.”
Amie, 45, who has experience of turning to a food bank, said: “Every week I’m forced to choose between keeping a roof over my head or putting food on the table, even though I work – just like so many people on the lowest incomes. As the cost of rent has skyrocketed, I had hoped the Chancellor would see sense and unfreeze Local Housing Allowance today so it actually meets the costs of renting a home.
“The extra help with energy bills announced today will help but I’m disappointed the government hasn’t chosen to act on the biggest problem my family is facing, which is keeping a roof over our heads.
“I don’t struggle to pay for our housing because I can’t budget, I struggle because the cost of my rent keeps rising far beyond what I can pay and the support just isn’t there. That leaves families like mine constantly having to make impossible decisions.
“Tomorrow I’ll still wake up worrying about the same things I’ve been worrying about for months. How am I going to cover the rent? Will there be enough left for food? Those are the questions families like mine will still be asking.”
Commenting on the UK Government’s Budget announcement, COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Kelly Parry said:“Councils are central to local economies, tackling child poverty, and delivering key community services.
“For this reason, the elements of the UK Budget that signal further devolution of power are encouraging, however single-year budget settlements from UK Government and Scottish Government are still not allowing councils to achieve their full potential.
“As we look ahead to the Scottish Government’s Budget on 3rd December, it is vital that Ministers prioritise local government with a fair, flexible, and sustained funding settlement.
“Removing ring-fencing and single-year budget constraints will empower councils to invest in preventative services and deliver real, long-term change for our communities.”
Cost of living boost with free bus travel for children and targeted food tariff cuts
Free bus travel for children throughout August, helping families across England get out and explore
Comes as products including biscuits, chocolate, dried fruit and nuts set to see targeted cuts to agri-food tariffs, to help to reduce pressure on food prices.
Move is latest in government drive to support families and help ease pressures on household budgets.
Families travelling this summer will benefit from free bus travel for children as the Chancellor ramps up efforts to help with the cost of living (we already have this in Scotland – Ed.)
The Chancellor is committing more than £100 million to fund the free fares scheme and also continuing to support bus services. Every child aged five to 15 in England will travel free on participating local buses throughout August – with unlimited journeys, no registration required, and at no cost to families.
It is part of a scheme called ‘Great British Summer Savings’. The Chancellor will set out more details today on how the Government will support families and businesses this summer.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We know many hard‑working families are still feeling the squeeze and too often think they have to hold back.
“By giving every child free bus travel throughout August and cutting tariffs on everyday food items, we’re putting money back into people’s pockets and making life that bit easier.
“This government is focused on practical steps that help right now — easing pressure on household budgets, supporting parents during the school holidays, and backing British businesses.”
It comes as the government prioritises protecting households and businesses from rising costs, and the announcements today will build on the work to cut energy bills, protect motorists and crack down on unfair profiteering.
This month the government has delivered £117 off energy bills on average, increased the minimum wage again and frozen rail fares and prescription charges, thanks to the choices the Chancellor made at the Autumn Budget.
As the war in Iran puts pressure on prices at home, the government has stepped in with a tax cut for hauliers to keep our shelves stocked and economy moving, extended the 5p fuel duty freeze to protect motorists at the pump, and emergency relief for families in rural communities who have been hit by a sharp increase in the price of heating oil.
The Chancellor will say that in an era of global conflict, this government has the right economic plan, as economic indicators showed the UK beating the forecasts again this week. The UK was the fastest-growing economy in the G7 at the start of this year, and Monday the IMF upgraded our growth forecast for 2026. Yesterday we saw inflation falling faster than expected, thanks to the action taken at the budget to keep energy prices down.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “My number one priority is protecting households from rising costs. This summer I want every family to be able to enjoy themselves, that’s why we’re launching the Great British Summer Savings Scheme, and why we’re helping kids with free bus travel throughout August.
“As the war in Iran pushes prices up at home, my economic plan is the right one. I will continue to make the right choices, to protect households and businesses, and build a stronger and more secure Britain.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Free bus travel for every child in August means parents can plan days out, visit loved ones and make the most of the holidays without the added financial pressure.
“We’ve already seen what’s possible – in the West of England, the Mayor’s free travel scheme is making a real difference, particularly for young people in the most deprived communities. That’s exactly the kind of impact we want to deliver for families right across England this summer.
“This builds on the work we’re already doing to make buses better for everyone – from the £3 bus fare cap and the landmark Bus Services Act, to our £3 billion investment in local services and frozen rail fares for the first time in 30 years. We’re making sure public transport works for people, not against them.”
Free bus travel for children will run from 1 to 31 August and covers participating local bus services across England. This could save a family with two children who make a weekly return trip at a £1.50 child fare £27 in August.
It comes following a successful pilot ran last summer by the Mayor for the West of England, Helen Godwin.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Kids Go Free in the West of England has seen around 1.4 million free journeys over the summer, Christmas, and Easter holidays since my election last year.
“It’s brilliant that, after we have invested devolved funding to make a difference that people across the West can see and feel, the government is rolling out Kids Go Free nationally this August!
“There’s been a huge increase in public transport use through our offer already, including children and families travelling on our new green buses. Bus travel from our lowest income areas doubled year-on-year last summer, with kids able to just hop on board and no registration needed.
“I’m so excited to see Kids Go Free return again for the school summer holidays – helping more children and young people to explore the best of what the West has to offer.”
This funding also includes support for bus services that have experienced increased costs, recognising the vital service they provide particularly for school children, pensioners and those living in rural communities. The Government will work with the sector to decide how this support can be allocated with the greatest impact.
Separately, as part of wider efforts to reduce pressure on prices, the Government is launching a business engagement exercise, with a view to making further targeted cuts to agri-food tariffs, suspending tariffs on over 100 types of products including biscuits, chocolate and dried fruit and nuts.
The expected benefit to consumers is more than £150 million a year. The full list of products will be published next week, with business engagement commencing next week. As per previous commitments, the list takes account of domestic production and food security and does not include any significant UK primary agriculture production. This is on top of the expected consumer benefits from agri-food tariff suspensions, announced at the end of April, of around £100 million to £400 million each year.
Today’s announcements build on action the government has already taken to reduce the cost of living, including cutting energy bills, freezing prescription charges, protecting motorists from fuel duty increases and raising the minimum wage. Yesterday (May 20) the Government announced extending the 5p fuel duty cut until end of year.
Michelle Ovens, CBE, CEO & Founder of Small Business Britain, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Chancellor’s commitment to additional funds for the free fares scheme.
“Giving children across the country the opportunity to travel freely during the summer holidays is vital in broadening aspirations, building life experiences, and encouraging young people to envision a future without boundaries.”
Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “This is a welcome move to help more families to get out and about by bus this summer and highlights the importance of affordable public transport in easing cost-of-living pressures on hard-pressed households.
“Investing in affordable, reliable bus services is one of the most cost-effective ways of improving people’s quality of life and tackling rising energy costs year-round.”
Lydia Horbury, CEO of passenger champions Bus Users UK said: “Making bus travel free for children throughout August is a hugely welcome step that will help families, encourage greater use of public transport and give young people more independence and opportunity over the summer holidays.
“For many households, even small savings can make a real difference, and this initiative removes both cost and complexity by making travel simpler and more accessible. It is also a wonderful opportunity for more families to experience the convenience and value of local bus services first hand.
“We hope this not only supports communities over the summer but also inspires lasting confidence in public transport and encourages the next generation to see buses as an easy and sustainable way to travel.”
Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said: “Buses are the most used form of public transport, essential in connecting people to opportunities.
“Building on the successful fares offers of many of our member transport authorities, Kids Go Free is a welcome and timely intervention – helping to make public transport more affordable over the summer holidays, and supporting families and young people to get to where they want to go.”
THERE ARE SOME WORDS OF CAUTION, HOWEVER …
Helen Barnard, Director of Policy and Research at Trussell said:“We are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living and the risk this will drive even more people into hunger and hardship, piling pressure on food banks that are already under immense strain.
“This package of summer support will do little to reassure people already struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table that the government has grasped the potentially dire impact of coming price rises, or is prepared to protect people at most risk of being forced to the doors of food banks.
“We expect energy bills to start rising this summer, continuing into the winter, with food and other costs also expected to rise over the year into winter and especially in early 2027. The government must urgently prepare a package of targeted measures to protect people on the lowest incomes from being forced into severe hardship as these cost pressures take hold.
“Last year, food banks in the Trussell community provided more than 2.6 million emergency food parcels across the UK. This isn’t right. The UK government must put appropriate plans in place to protect people on the lowest incomes from bearing the brunt of further spikes in prices and ensure that everyone can afford the essentials.
“The government made a UK manifesto promise to end the need for emergency food. We will not see this become a reality without further bold action to build on the progress it has started.”
Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age Morgan Vine said:“The cost of living support measures announced today to reduce the price of some food and travel are positive, but do not address the biggest issue weighing on older people living in financial hardship right now, energy bills.
“It’s inevitable that energy prices are going to soar as we move through summer and into the colder months.
“People in later life on low incomes tell us they are increasingly anxious and are already cutting back on essentials. Many simply cannot afford any further increases in their bills. We urge the UK Government to announce as soon as possible additional targeted energy support for low-income households.
“People of all ages on low incomes urgently need this reassurance so that they have a chance at keeping their homes warm during the colder months.”
Campaigners have called for a Minimum Income Guarantee and an immediate increase in the Scottish Child Payment that will lift thousands out of poverty.
He said: “Poverty is a profound injustice that robs people of what they need to build a decent life for themselves and a better future for our country. These figures show that MSPs in the next Scottish Parliament need to invest much more in the social foundation we all rely on.
“Because of changes in the way the figures have been worked out, we have to be cautious about the comparisons we make. But they show some welcome progress over the last few years, with the overall number of people in poverty falling by about 130,000 since 2021/22, and the number of children in poverty from 540,000 to 420,000.
“But we have serious concerns that those numbers could increase again, as people face yet another energy crisis and the prospect of rocketing living costs across the board.
“The figures show that there are 630,000 people in severe poverty – with children making up 150,000 of them. It is simply wrong that so many of our fellow citizens find themselves pushed so close to deprivation.”
The Poverty Alliance repeated its calls to boost the Scottish Child Payment to £55 a week.
Peter Kelly said: “Our new MSPs will have a legal responsibility to make sure that fewer than 10% of Scotland’s children are in poverty by 2030/31. Today’s figures show that 21% of our children are living with that daily injustice.
“We simply cannot allow this to continue. The Scottish Government can help by strengthening the support we give to households with children, and the UK Government can help by scrapping the unjust benefit cap.
“And over the course of the next Parliament, we will continue to build public support for real Living Wages and a Minimum Income Guarantee that will make sure everyone has what they need to use their talents for the benefit of themselves, their households, and all of us.”
Responding to today’s statistics on household incomes and poverty which show one in five children in Scotland are trapped in poverty, Chief Executive of Children First, Mary Glasgow said: “A small drop in child poverty does not change the urgent need for action to tackle Scotland’s childhood emergency and meet Scotland’s 2030 child poverty target.
“It is not acceptable that one in five children in Scotland are living in poverty. It has a devastating impact on children’s mental health, wellbeing, education and prospects that can last into adulthood. Reducing child poverty is an investment in Scotland’s future, improving public health, strengthening communities and reducing public costs in the long term.
“In the run up to the election, every political party must prioritise policies that support families, strengthen incomes and uphold Scotland’s commitment to eradicating child poverty.”
Commenting on today’s latest official poverty statistics, Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age said: “Today’s statistics show there are still too many pensioners living in poverty in Scotland.
“As the national charity supporting older people on low incomes, we know that older people are skipping meals, washing in cold water and not turning the heating on. This is wrong and a social injustice.
“As the Holyrood elections approach, all political parties must prioritise action to reduce pensioner poverty. This should start with a national strategy, a plan setting out the key actions to reduce poverty in older age and act as a map for how we will get there.
“They must also pledge to improve the social security support for older people on low incomes, and commit to supporting older people improve the energy efficiency of homes.
“We also urge the UK Government to introduce a social tariff for energy across the whole of the UK to reduce the cost of heating for older people on low incomes. The UK Government must also improve the take-up and adequacy of the payments they administer to older people.
“The levels of poverty in later life are too high in Scotland, and with around 1.7 million older people now in poverty across the UK, today’s figures must be a call to action.”
TRUSSELL commented: “It’s encouraging that child poverty is falling in Scotland. It shows the power of investing in social security.
“But it’s not acceptable that 1 in 5 children are locked in poverty. All parties must commit to decisive action to ensure every child has a decent start in life.”
Cara Hilton, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Trussell, said: “Today, the Family Resources Survey has revealed a heartbreaking injustice; persistently high numbers of people across Scotland are trapped in the grip of severe hardship.
“While the latest figures indicate that some people are getting back on their feet, the numbers of people facing hunger in our communities are still too high. As we find ourselves yet again facing uncertain times, we know that progress can be too easily undone. People just surviving could once again be pushed over the edge if the price of food and bills increases.
“Food banks in our community provided more than 220,000 food parcels in Scotland in 2025 – that’s 64% more than in 2015. These new figures from the government confirm that 500,000 people are facing hunger across Scotland. This isn’t right.
“With the Holyrood election just six weeks away, Trussell is calling on all political parties to commit to building a Scotland where everyone can afford the essentials and where every child has a decent start in life.
“This should include immediate investment to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week, increasing to £55 by the end of the next Holyrood session. We need the Scottish government to build firmer foundations for people on the lowest incomes so all of us have the support we need to thrive.”
Latest poverty statistics published
Two poverty statistics publications were released by the Scottish Government yesterday. Poverty and income inequality in Scotland 2022-25 covers the period up to March 2025, presenting poverty rates for children, working-age adults and pensioners.
Methodological changes have been applied to the statistics in this report as the Department for Work and Pensions have linked the source data from the Family Resources Survey to administrative records on social security benefits.
As a result, there have been revisions to previously published poverty rates back to 2021/22, and further revisions are planned as part of on-going development work. Users should therefore note that caution is needed when interpreting the statistics to assess trends over time.
The most recent three-year averages for 2022-25 show that:
Around 17 per cent of Scotland’s population (940,000 people) were living in relative poverty after housing costs. This was 15 per cent (840,000 people) before housing costs. Poverty rates for Scotland’s population have been broadly stable for around a decade.
Children are more likely to be in relative poverty: 21 per cent of children are in relative poverty after housing costs, compared to 13 per cent of pensioners and 18 per cent of working-age adults. Children in relative poverty are more likely to be in a working household; 75% of children in relative poverty have at least one person working in the household while 25% have no-one in household working.
The median household income before housing costs was £707 per week and after housing costs was £636. Prior to 2021/22, median incomes had increased slowly but steadily since the recession in 2008/09.
Persistent Poverty in Scotland 2010-24 presents statistics on people who live in relative poverty for at least three out of the last four years. The latest figures show that around one in ten people in Scotland (11 per cent) were in persistent poverty, after housing costs, between 2020 and 2024. Persistent poverty rates were highest for children (17 per cent), and lower for working-age adults (10 per cent) and pensioners (9 per cent).
Persistent poverty is an important measure because the longer someone is in poverty, the more it impacts on their health, well-being, and overall life chances. These impacts can affect an individual throughout their lifetime.
Further information on the two publications is set out below:
This Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland publication contains statistics on poverty, child poverty, poverty risks for various equality characteristics, household income and income inequality for Scotland. This report also includes statistics on household food security. The data comes from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey (FRS), Households Below Average Income dataset. Comparable UK income and poverty figures are published on the same day by DWP.
Statistics from this report have been revised, back to 2021/22, due to a methodology change. The FRS is now linked to administrative data, which means the majority of FRS responses for benefit income and tax credits have been replaced with data from DWP’s administrative sources. Further years of linked estimates back to survey year 2018/19 will be published in summer 2026 in a follow up release. The absolute poverty measure has also been amended as a result of the data linkage; full details can be found in the report.
This publication has been designated as official statistics in development in line with the other devolved administrations in order to acknowledge the changes to the methodology and that there will be a period of flux as further methodological changes are implemented. Future changes are announced by DWP in their release strategy, which is updated periodically as plans develop. A statistical blog has been published on the Scottish Government website to inform users of developments.
Figures are presented in the main report are three-year averages of each estimate. Three-year estimates are better to identify trends over time. The four child poverty measures in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act are based on single-year figures. These statistics are available in the reference tables and in the child poverty summary.The single-year estimates exhibit more year-on-year fluctuation compared to the three-year averages and should be interpreted with caution.
This Persistent Poverty in Scotland publication presents estimates of the proportion of people in Scotland who live in persistent poverty. The data comes from the Understanding Society Survey, and the latest statistics cover the period from 2020 to 2024. Statistics from this report are badged as official statistics.
Poverty statistics are used by the Scottish Government and other organisations to monitor progress in tackling poverty and child poverty, and to analyse what drives poverty and what works for tackling poverty and income inequality.
Relative poverty: A person is in relative poverty if their current household income is less than 60% of the current UK median. Relative poverty statistics fall if income growth at the lower end of the income distribution is greater than overall income growth.
Absolute poverty: A person is in absolute poverty if their current household income is less than 60% of the UK median in a given reference year, adjusted for inflation. Absolute poverty statistics fall if low income households are seeing their incomes rise faster than inflation. Due to the structural break introduced by the data linkage the reference year for absolute poverty has been moved from 2010/11 to 2024/25.
Combined low income and material deprivation identifies the proportion of children in households with incomes below 70% of the median UK income and going without certain basic essential goods and services.
Persistent poverty identifies the number of people in relative poverty for three or more out of four years. People who live in poverty for several years may be affected by it throughout their lifetime.
The poverty publications present poverty figures before and after housing costs. Before-housing-costs figures are a basic measure of household income from earnings and benefits. After-housing-costs figures subtract spending on rents, mortgage interest payments and other unavoidable housing costs from this basic income. In Scotland, poverty statistics focus mainly on poverty after housing costs.
Edinburgh customers can support families facing financial difficulties during the Easter school holidays by picking up an extra bag to put through the checkout at Tesco stores.
The donation bags, which cost between £2 and £5, are pre-packed with healthy long life food items. They will be available in every large Tesco store in and around Edinburgh during the Easter break (30 March 30 to 12 April) to make donating the most-needed items to the charities FareShare & The Felix Project and Trussell easier than ever.
The Easter Holiday Helps initiative is part of Tesco’s year-round support for schoolchildren and families. This includes the Fruit and Veg for Schools programme, which helps schools with the highest rates of free school meals by offering grants for purchasing fruit and vegetables from Tesco stores. The scheme also helps children to get healthier snack choices and lunch options while they’re at school.
Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco, said: “Holiday periods can be really tough for Edinburgh families who miss out on their free school meal provision, meaning it’s hard to make sure kids get healthy nutritious food.
“Our pre-packed donation bags will give a much-needed boost of food to FareShare & The Felix Project and Trussell and make a difference to the lives of children and their families, giving them vital support over the school holidays.”
Trussell says that foodbank use remains 45% higher than in 2019 before the pandemic, with foodbanks in the Trussell community providing the equivalent of one parcel every 12 seconds throughout 2025.
Parents are among the people shouldering the heaviest burden, as families with children received almost two-thirds (62%) of all parcels in 2025.
Tesco continues to support FareShare & The Felix Project and other community groups year-round by redistributing unsold food from all its Edinburgh stores as part of its Community Food Connection programme, which provides thousands of meals locally. Customers can also donate the value of their Clubcard vouchers to either FareShare & The Felix Project or Trussell online.
Matthew van Duyvenbode, Co-CEO at Trussell, said: “Tesco’s Easter pre-packed donation bags are such a great way to make it easier for people to support children and families in their local communities. With some children missing out on free school meals and parents facing additional food costs, it makes it even harder to cover the essentials we all need.
“No-one should face hunger – these extra donations make all the difference to ensure more families can put food on their tables. Tesco has stepped up to help once again. Thank you so much to Tesco customers for playing your part. We are extremely grateful.”
Customers can donate any long-life items to support FareShare & The Felix Project and Trussell, but their most-needed items are tinned meat and fish, long life fruit juice, cooking/pasta sauces, tinned vegetables, and tinned and dried soup.
Charlotte Hill, CEO at FareShare & The Felix Project, said: “Many of the charities receiving food through our network support families with children. They tell us that the school holidays can be especially hard for parents who are already struggling, which is why initiatives like Tesco’s Easter Holiday Helps are so important.
“These pre-packed donation bags make it easy for shoppers to donate long-life items that help charities and make a real difference to families in need. We are so grateful to Tesco and all their customers for their ongoing support, helping us get nourishing food to people and families, one donation bag at a time.”
Other key items that can be donated as part of the scheme are pasta, rice and noodles, cereal and porridge, tea and coffee, sponge/rice pudding, and UHT and powered milk.
Majority are for families with children, reports Trussell
Families with children continue to be among hardest hit, receiving 56% of parcels despite representing only 38% of the overall population
Severe hardship among older people is rising sharply, with parcels provided to people aged 65+ more than doubling (106%) since 2019
Scottish stars including Brian Cox, Sanjeev Kohli, Julie Graham, Mark Bonnar and Gregor Fisher join call for political parties to commit to ending need for food banks ahead of Holyrood elections
Trussell warns that people are feeling “overlooked and left behind” as the strain eases for some, while ongoing, day-to-day hardship continues to weigh heavily on other families
New figures released today by Trussell reveal that almost 220,000 emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hunger and hardship across Scotland in 2025, as hunger continues to grip communities.
Trussell’s community of food banks in Scotland are providing the equivalent of 600 food parcels a day – or one parcel every 2 and a half minutes.
Trussell reported a 13% drop in the total parcel numbers provided in Scotland compared to the previous year of 2024, largely due to easing inflation – reflecting a slowdown in the rising cost of essentials – alongside fewer people losing their jobs. While this means some people have been able to get back on their feet, the charity warns too many are feeling “overlooked and left behind” as incomes from social security and wages continue to fail to cover the high costs of essentials like food, utility bills, and toiletries.
Parents are among the people shouldering the heaviest burden, as families with children received more than half (56%) of all parcels in 2025, despite making up just 38% of Scotland’s population. Trussell is also reporting an alarming rise in hardship among older people in Scotland. Between 2019 and 2025 the number of parcels provided for people aged 65 and over more than doubled (106% increase).
Food banks are describing the persistent hardship they witness as “appalling”, with people sitting in the dark to save electricity, parents skipping meals to feed their children, and people in such impossible situations that they open food parcels to eat before leaving the food bank.
At the same time, levels of need continue to outpace donations. Many food banks say they are at breaking point and are having to purchase significant amounts of food just to keep shelves stocked.
The charity says such appalling levels of hunger and hardship should serve as a wake-up call for the upcoming election. In Scotland, there are high levels of public concern about hunger and hardship with 94% of people saying it’s a problem. (Trussell Public Attitudes Survey 2025)
This Holyrood election, the charity is calling on all political parties and candidates to commit to a plan to end the need for food banks in Scotland for good.
A host of Scottish celebrities have also joined Trussell’s call.
Brian Cox, actor and Succession star, said:“No one should have to turn to a food bank to get by. But shockingly, almost 220,000 emergency food parcels were distributed across Scotland last year – with so many of these provided for children.
“I know from my own experience that poverty has a lasting impact that never leaves you. It has a stubborn grip. Food banks are a lifeline, but they shouldn’t have to exist in a just and compassionate society.
“That’s why I’m calling on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for food banks in Scotland for good. Because hunger is not inevitable.”
Sanjeev Kohli, Still Game star and comedian, said:“Finport & Craiglang might be fictional, but in very real communities the length & breadth of our country, too many people are struggling to afford the essentials and will have no choice but to turn to their local food bank for support.
“Parents are being forced to ration nappies and people are opening food parcels to eat as soon as they leave the food bank. I don’t want to live in a country which stands by as people are forced to the brink like this.
“I stand with Trussell in putting pressure on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for food banks for good.”
Julie Graham, Shetland actor, said:“It’s not right that anyone should be facing hunger in Scotland today.
It’s especially alarming how many children are experiencing this, struggling to get through a day at school on an empty stomach.
“That’s why I’m standing with Trussell and calling on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for food banks, so no one has to go through this.”
Mark Bonnar, actor and Celebrity Traitors star, said: “It’s shocking that so many people are still facing hunger and hardship in Scotland today.
“This shouldn’t be the case in 2026. Food banks are a lifeline, but they shouldn’t be necessary. I am standing with Trussell to call on all political parties to commit to ending the need for food banks in Scotland for good.”
Gregor Fisher, actor and Rab C Nesbitt star, said: “The number of people having to turn to food banks across Scotland in order to survive is unacceptable.
“With almost 220,000 emergency food parcels being distributed to people across the country, and so many of these provided for children, it’s clear that the time for action is now.
“It’s a disgrace that so many families are struggling to get by. That’s why I’m standing with Trussell to call for all political parties in the Holyrood elections to prioritise solutions that will end hunger, and commit to a future without food banks.”
Cara Hilton, senior policy and public affairs manager at Trussell Scotland, said:“Today’s figures show that too many people across Scotland are still being pushed to the brink. Hunger continues to hold a harsh grip on communities, leaving many people feeling overlooked and left behind.
“This is heartbreaking. No one should be forced to turn to a food bank because they can’t afford the essentials we all need, like food, bills and toiletries. But right now, too many people are being forced to skip meals so their children can eat, or survive on cups of tea because they don’t have any food left in the cupboards.
“This Holyrood election, we need to see the political will to act on the unacceptably high levels of hunger and hardship. We must build a Scotland where everyone can afford the essentials, where every child has a decent start in life, and where charitable food provision is consigned to history.
“We urge all political parties and candidates to commit to a plan to end the need for food banks in Scotland for good. We won’t stop until everyone has enough to afford the essentials and we can end the need for food banks for good.”
Pam, 59, a former police officer from Kirkintilloch, said: “Having worked as a police officer until I had to quit due to ill-health, I never thought I’d need to use a food bank. I had to get a hip replacement due to arthritis, and then my house was repossessed as I just couldn’t afford to keep going.
“I visited the food bank in some of my darkest days, and the support of the food bank helped me not only get the food I needed but the right support too. They gave me the help I needed to cope with my illness and that’s why after using the food bank, I volunteered there to help give back.
“Despite being able to get back on my feet a little, I later suffered an aneurysm in my brain which left me having to learn to walk again, and the damage that caused means I sometimes struggle with the sheer level of administration that comes with claiming Universal Credit.
“I am now at risk of having to use it again because the health element of my benefits is being reviewed.”
Trussell says food banks need everyone to play their part to move us towards ending the need for emergency food in the UK.
The public can help make sure food banks can continue to provide warm, compassionate, practical support and advice in the year ahead by donating food or funds to Trussell or your local food bank to help end hunger in the UK.
You can find out how many emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hardship in your local area on the Trussell website: campaign.trussell.org.uk/parcels-by-postcode
ENDING THE NEED FOR FOOD BANKS: TRUSSELL ELECTION MANIFESTO
We are calling on the next Govt to ensure holistic, tailored advice is better funded & more accessible & for public debt collection to be reformed to stop households being trapped in poverty.
You can read more in our Trussell Holyrood manifesto here:
The 2026-27 Budget will support a stronger NHS, with a record £22.5 billion for health and social care, expand cost of living support and invest in Scotland’s infrastructure.
Published alongside the latest multi-year Scottish Spending Review, Infrastructure Strategy and Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline, the draft Budget invests almost £68 billion including direct support for families and household budgets.
The 2026-27 Budget includes:
a cost of living package to: help families with funding to trial a programme of activities in a range of primary schools between 3-6pm; a Summer of Sport – free children’s sporting activities, including lessons on how to swim for every primary school child in the country; and a breakfast club for every primary school by August 2027
continued investment in Scotland’s existing cost of living measures, including free prescriptions, free eye examinations, removal of peak rail fares on Scotrail, free tuition fees for young Scots, free school meals for thousands of children, including all pupils in P1 to P5, and free bus travel for under-22s and over-60s
funding to increase Scottish Child Payment to £28.20 per week and investment to allow the introduction of a premium payment of £40 per week for eligible children under 12 months from 2027-28, bolstering efforts to drive down child poverty
extra funding to keep more children out of poverty from funds initially set aside to mitigate the UK Government’s two-child cap, including £50 million of whole family support and a further £49 million for measures to be announced in the Child Poverty Delivery Plan in March
tax choices which increase the Basic and Intermediate rate income tax thresholds to put more money in the pockets of low and middle income earners, maintain current income tax rates and bands, and provide a competitive non-domestic rates relief package worth an estimated £864 million, including measures for pubs, restaurants and retailers
a record £22.5 billion for health and social care, including a record £17.6 billion for NHS boards and resources to begin the national rollout of walk-in GP clinics, making it easier to access same-day appointments
an almost £15.7 billion record settlement for local government to support the services communities rely on including social care and education
significant extra funding for universities and colleges, with colleges seeing a combined increase of £70 million in resource and capital funding, equivalent to a 10% uplift, targeted support to help retrain workers in the oil and gas sector and ongoing commitment to Scotland’s apprenticeships, which this year will provide more than 31,000 Scots with a pathway to sustainable, well-paid jobs
over £5 billion to tackle the climate emergency, reduce carbon emissions and increase resilience as well as backing regenerative and sustainable skills in food and farming
£4.3 billion transport funding including investment in railways, the renewal of the ferry fleet, removal of peak season fares for residents of Orkney and Shetland on Northern Isles ferries and nearly £200 million for the dualling of the A9
record investment in new affordable homes
Ms Robison said:“This Budget delivers for families across the country, for a stronger NHS, and for a more prosperous future.
“It will fund landmark policies to continue efforts to eradicate child poverty – investing in a brighter future for Scotland and the children growing up here.
“Almost £68 billion is being invested in 2026-27 and almost £200 billion through the Scottish Spending Review and Infrastructure Investment Pipeline, demonstrating the scale of our ambition for our nation.”
Other measures include:
from April 2027, an Air Departure Tax (ADT) will come into force and the framework offered by the new ADT will be used to introduce a private jet supplement
the introduction by April 2028 of two new council tax bands for the most expensive properties in Scotland, those worth more than £1 million, on an up-to-date valuation
support for high-growth firms to attract private investment and connect entrepreneurs
£200 million for the Scottish National Investment Bank – delivering on the commitment to invest £1 billion in the Bank by the end of the parliamentary term
record funding for police and fire services and an additional £10 million investment in community justice services
a £20 million increase in the culture budget, recognising Scotland is richer because of its world-famous culture and creative sector
support for the creation of a diverse and sustainable supply chain for offshore wind, to boost the economy.
Responding to today’s proposed Scottish Budget, Poverty Alliance Policy & Campaigns Manager Ruth Boyle said: “People in Scotland want a just and compassionate society – but too many feel the system is rigged against them.
“There was some good news today – but we can do much more to make sure that every child in Scotland gets the investment they need for a decent life and a better future.
“Ensuring that every child in primary school gets a healthy breakfast is an excellent investment, because no child should go to school hungry.
“Increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 for eligible households with a baby under 1 is welcome and will help families at a time when they face increased costs. However, this must be a first step towards boosting that payment to £40 for every eligible child in the country.
“That is the kind of fundamental investment the Government needs to make if they are serious about meeting the 2030 child poverty targets.
“With Scotland not on track to meet those legally binding targets, we need all political parties to set out their plans to invest in country where no child lives in poverty. Our children can’t wait any longer.
“We can make that kind of investment in Scotland – and there is support for it. In among the Budget documents is new polling from YouGov showing that 54% of people in Scotland believe that Government should redistribute income from the better-off to those who are less well off. Just 29% disagree.
“The Scottish Government must raise revenue to invest in our shared national priorities, like tackling child poverty and reducing the cost of living. It’s right that the Government has turned to those with the biggest assets to contribute more with a tax on private jets and increased council tax for the highest value homes.
“This has to be the start of long-promised, fundamental reform of council tax so that our local councils can provide the services that all of us need, and that are a vital lifeline for so many households in poverty.
“The Poverty Alliance will continue to call for the measures we need to provide a Minimum Income Guarantee that no-one will fall under – including increasing wages, investing in strong public services, and providing a social security system that gives everyone in Scotland a secure foundation to build a better future.
“Today’s budget has some positive steps towards that ambition – but we need to go further and faster if we are to build a Scotland free from poverty.”
Commenting on today’s draft Scottish Budget, Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity, said: “It’s hugely positive to see child poverty being made a top priority in today’s budget.
“The significant funding boost to whole family support and extra resources for third sector organisations will provide a lifeline to families who need help most, right across Scotland.
“But we can’t afford to slow down. Scotland’s legal target to eradicate child poverty demands bold, accelerated action. Life is tougher than ever for many children and families and at Children First we witness this first-hand every day.
“That’s why we urgently need a National Front Door that offers a simple accessible way for families to get the help they need when they need it.”
Children First’s manifesto for the 2026 Holyrood elections calls on the next Scottish Government to deliver a comprehensive offer of whole family support to tackle child poverty and give every family the emotional, practical and financial support they need.
Trussell’s Cara Hilton said: ‘While we welcome the @scotgov‘s £40 SCP rate for babies under 1, we continue to call for an increase to £40 a week for all.
‘Our @TrussellUK data shows food parcels for families with children aged 12-16 in Scotland rose by 7% over the past 5 years. #ScotBudget‘.
Responding to the Scottish Budget and Scottish Spending Review, Anna Fowlie, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) Chief Executive, said: “Too often and for too long, voluntary organisations that provide vital services to people and communities across Scotland are treated as the poor relation to mainstream public services.
“They have had to contend with budget cuts, short-term funding cycles, late payments, incoherent decision-making, poor communication, inadequate grant management, and more.
“Reform of the voluntary sector funding landscape is long overdue. The Scottish Spending Review is welcome, giving the Government the long-term outlook to make progress on its commitment to deliver improvements, including multi-year funding for Scotland’s voluntary organisations.
“Welcome too is the Scottish Government’s commitment to multi-year funding for sections of the voluntary sector—this shows, again, what is possible.
“Today we had hoped for more than a recommitment to the ‘first step’ announced last February—the Scottish Government’s ‘Fairer Funding’ pilot.
“We know the benefits of multi-year funding: better staffing, stability, and future planning for the services people and communities rely on. The Government’s own research confirms this.
“Multi-year funding alone, however, will not provide the sustainable funding environment the voluntary sector so desperately needs, funding that is flexible, sustainable, and accessible.
“We need to see real progress and recognition of SCVO’s Fair Funding asks beyond multi-year funding. Wider reforms are, unfortunately, now unlikely to be seen before the next parliamentary term.
“In the meantime it is essential that in the weeks following the Scottish Budget the Scottish Government support local authorities and voluntary organisations by meeting their commitments to timely notifications and payments.
“We look forward to further engagement on both Fair Funding and charity regulation in the next parliamentary term.”
Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson said:“Social housing delivery in Scotland remains too slow, too little and too late for the more than 10,000 children homeless tonight. Today’s budget doesn’t do enough to change these facts.
“Shona Robison’s budget was an opportunity for Ministers to put their money where their mouth is. On the face of it an additional £34 million for social housing, compared to the most recent budget, is a step in the right direction – but it is not enough.
“The extra money will only deliver 36,000 affordable homes by 2030 – more than 26,000 short of where they say they would need to be to deliver their promise of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032.
“The new Parliament will need a new approach and new money to deliver the social homes needed to reduce homelessness. Homes that the government promised, that academics say we need but for which there is still no credible plan to deliver.
“We must be honest about the real costs of failure. Failing to build the social homes we need means rising homelessness, rising child poverty, rising costs for councils, health boards and the taxpayer.”
Responding to the Scottish Government’s Budget, Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age said: “It is disappointing to see nothing new in this Budget to adequately respond to the growing number of older people in poverty.
“One in six pensioners now live in poverty across Scotland, a total of 160,000 older people, and we must see more action to support them.
“We want the Scottish Government to set out a clear, targeted strategy to bring down the alarming number of older people in poverty, increase access to the vital Discretionary Housing Payments that can help older renters meet shortfalls in rent, and increase the social security support available to those on a low income in later life.
“With pensioner poverty at its highest level in nearly 20 years, and likely to continue to rise as our population ages, it’s vital all political parties include measures to bring down the levels of poverty in later life in their manifestos’ ahead of May’s Holyrood elections. In a compassionate and wealthy society, we should all be able to live a financially secure, dignified later life.”
Responding to the Scottish Government’s Budget statement which slashed the 40% discount on business rates bills for pubs at the same time as a rates revaluation will lead to higher bills from 1 April, Stuart McMahon, Director of pubgoers group CAMRA Scotland said: “Pubgoers and publicans simply won’t stand for a Budget which will force more of our locals to go to the wall by landing them with bills they simply can’t afford.
“I fear that slashing the 40% discount on business rates bills for pubs to just 15% at the same time as these bills are increasing will be absolutely disastrous.
“Transitional reliefs may sound good but if this Budget still means higher business rates bills than pubs are paying now then this will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many hard-pressed licensees.
“Pubs need permanently lower business rates bills so that they can survive, thrive and play their part as vital community hubs.”
The Scottish Government’s budget announcement of further funding for the college sector, which includes a combined increase of £70 million in resource and capital funding, received a qualified welcome. Principal of Edinburgh College, Audrey Cumberford said: “While this is a welcome step in the right direction for college funding, there is still more that needs to be done.
“This increase will help to undo some of the damage done by years of real terms cuts, but more is needed if we are to ensure the future sustainability of our sector.
“There is now a clear consensus across the political spectrum for better funding for colleges.
“I would urge parties to continue to work together to make sure we unleash the true potential of our sector so we can continue to drive economic growth and improve the lives of Scots across the country.”
Responding to the Scottish government’s 2026-27 budget, announced today by Finance Secretary Shona Robison, RCEM Vice President for Scotland Dr Fiona Hunter said: “Scottish Emergency Departments are in the midst of a crisis born of political apathy towards tackling the difficult problems of social care capacity, delayed discharges and the overall issue of hospital flow.
“Today’s budget indicates once again that the Scottish government understands what the issues are. £2.3bn extra for social care, an uplift in frontline NHS spending, specific targeted action on delayed discharge and local engagement – these are all measures we warmly welcome from the government.
“As well as this, our members will be pleased to hear about improvements to training, retention and working conditions.
“However, we’ve been here before. Time after time the reality in our A&Es has got worse, not better, despite claims from the government that the NHS has been on ‘the path to recovery’ in recent years.
“We are seeing more and more patients waiting alone on trolleys in hospital corridors for hours on end, getting sicker and being put at risk of harm.
“This has happened because exit block has not been tackled, despite promises to the contrary from the government.
“The devil will be in the detail and I will reserve judgement for when myself, and the members I represent, see improvements in our Emergency Departments.
“We look forward to continued engagement with the government on how it seeks to tackle hospital flow, and await further information on how the Health Secretary will take today’s promises and turn them into action and, ultimately, improvements for our patients.”
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU, said: “This Budget offers some short-term stability for councils, but it ducks the bigger questions about how local government is funded.
There is still no meaningful move towards multi-year settlements, which councils overwhelmingly say they need in order to plan sustainably. Our annual State of Local Government Finance in Scotland research, launched last week, reinforces this.
Incentivising a council tax freeze risks further undermining local fiscal autonomy, while adult social care remains the single biggest pressure on council finances without clear, dedicated funding.
Housing investment is welcome, but spreading it across the country without enabling local flexibility limits its capacity to tackle the areas of greatest need.
Overall, this is a Budget that manages immediate pressures but avoids the structural reform required to put local government finance on a sustainable footing.”
The Existing Homes Alliance (EHA) is a coalition of over 20 housing, environmental, fuel poverty, consumer and industry organisations calling for urgent action to transform Scotland’s existing housing stock.
Lori McElroy, Chair of the Existing Homes Alliance said:“While we welcome the ongoing support to help homeowners, landlords and tenants to make their homes warmer, healthier and more affordable to heat, this remains a drop in the ocean when we have over 800,000 households living in fuel poverty and 44% of Scotland’s homes falling below Energy Performance Certificate band C.
“Scotland has excellent fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes such as Warmer Homes Scotland, Area-based Schemes and the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund, as well as generous grants through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, but the gap between what is needed and what is currently being delivered is wide.
“This Budget, as it stands, is a missed opportunity to significantly scale up these programmes which would reduce fuel poverty, improve public health by tackling damp and mould, and prepare the workforce and supply chains needed to deliver our climate change targets – supporting thousands of jobs and economic opportunities across Scotland.”
Joanne Smith, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “For children to thrive, it’s vital that they have the best start in life, and so we are heartened by the Scottish Government’s commitment to increase the Child Payment for under ones. But we are disappointed that young families now will not reap those benefits, with it starting in more than a year’s time.
“We also welcome the Scottish Government’s renewed investment in the whole family support fund and its work to continue to deliver the Promise. But it is so important that in this it recognises the fundamental need for support for very young children, just like the Scottish Child Payment does, so that families get the help they need right from the start.”
Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell has responded to the Scottish Government’s tax and spending plans for 2026 to 2027.
Chief Constable Farrell said: “I recognise a £90m cash-terms uplift to revenue funding and an improved capital allocation for policing against a challenging public finance picture.
“I set out the funding requirements for policing in evidence during the Criminal Justice Committee’s pre-budget scrutiny work.
“Police Scotland will continue to engage with the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Government to understand the full implications of the budget and develop our planning for the year ahead.
“My focus continues to be on prioritising our frontline to deliver safer communities, less crime, and supported victims as part of our vision for policing.”
