Report shows boldness required to tackle child poverty
Alison Johnstone MSP, Social Security spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said today's report on the Scottish Government's Child Poverty Strategy underlines the need for an anti-poverty budget.
The report shows improvements in only 9 of the 37 measurements. Between 2014/15 and 15/16 20,000 additional children fell into poverty, taking the total to 160,000 - 17 per cent of children in Scotland.
Alison Johnstone, Social Security spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, said:
“This report underlines what Green MSPs have been calling for – an anti-poverty budget. To see an increase in child poverty is deeply disturbing, and Scottish Ministers should be straining at the limits of their powers to tackle this scandal.
“Ministers have already given me a commitment to roll out nationally the Healthier Wealthier Children project, which has helped families in Glasgow at risk of poverty boost their incomes. They must deliver on that commitment. Ministers must also give serious consideration to measures such as a top up of child benefit and the introduction of a young carer’s allowance.
“We have the ability with our income tax powers to give lower earners a tax cut while generating more funds for anti-poverty measures and public services by ensuring higher earners pay a fairer share. Today’s report shows boldness is required if we’re to see improvements in child poverty levels.”
Annual report for the Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland (Scottish Government)