Poverty shocker
Childhood deprivation statistics revealed
Four in 10 children in South Lanarkshire are living in deprivation.
Scottish Government statistics show that 40.5 per cent of youngsters in the area are experiencing material deprivation, with many families unable to afford basic necessities.
A child is classed as living in material deprivation if the family cannot afford three or more items on a list of 22 necessities, such as access to a computer and internet, owning a warm winter coat and having a garden or outdoor space nearby to play safely.
The shocking statistic places South Lanarkshire in eighth place in a list of 32 Scottish council areas, behind Dundee (54.1 per cent), Glasgow (53.5 per cent), West Dunbartonshire (44.9 per cent), Dumfries and Galloway (42.3 per cent), North Ayrshire (41.7 per cent), South Ayrshire (40.9 per cent) and North Lanarkshire (40.7 per cent).
East Renfrewshire has the lowest number of children experiencing material deprivation, with a figure of 16.4 per cent.
The South Lanarkshire figure was slammed by Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon, who called on the Scottish Government to protect local services.
She said: “Austerity is not an abstract concept. Further cuts by the Scottish Government to South Lanarkshire Council’s budget will means cuts to vital local services.
“In reality that means the axing of vital leisure facilities, fewer community resources, funding cuts for local voluntary groups and bigger class sizes for our children.
“With recent figures revealing that almost a half of children in South Lanarkshire experience deprivation, my constituents cannot afford further budget cuts.
“The Scottish Government must choose to use its powers and show the political will to stop Tory austerity in its tracks, and protect the funding of vital local services.”
The Advertiser contacted the Scottish Government for comment, and were told new child in place.
Equalities Secretary Angela Constance said: “Scotland is now the first part of the UK to set ambitious targets to tackle child poverty, showing just how serious we are about reducing and ultimately eradicating child poverty.
“Meeting our ambitious new targets will be challenging and it will seem like we are often fighting with one hand tied behind poverty targets had been put our back whilst UK Government austerity and welfare cuts continue.
“The UK Budget was a missed opportunity to reverse the cuts that are set to push a further 1 million children into poverty across the UK.
“The Child Poverty Bill, passed unanimously by Parliament, also sets out the positive action we are taking to prevent further generations of children growing up in poverty and will be backed by our Tackling million.
“This is in stark contrast to the action being taken by the UK Government, which has abolished its child poverty unit and child poverty targets.
“We want to continue to work with local authorities, health boards and the third sector to ensure that in our modern, thriving country, children have the best possible start in life.” Child Poverty Fund worth £50