Government’s plans to beat child poverty

The UK budget was a “missed opportunity” to tackle child poverty, according to Scotland’s equalities secretary who spoke out after it emerged that 28% of Dundee’s children are living below the poverty line.

Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, said the Scottish Government was taking child poverty “seriously.”

This week it was revealed that Dundee has the third highest rates of child deprivation in Scotland.

Ms Constance said: “Tackling inequalities is core to everything we do, as we strive to make Scotland fairer and more equal.

“Scotland is the only 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.

“The UK Budget was a missed opportunity to reverse the cuts that are set to push a further one million children into poverty across the UK.

She added: “The End Child Poverty Coalition figures confirm what we already know – that local authorities across Scotland face different challenges in tackling poverty.

“That’s why we included a local reporting duty in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017.

“We are also working closely with local authorities, health boards, and the third sector to develop guidance for the local reports required under the Act, and to share best practice.

“The guidance will be published in the coming months, with the first set of local reports due in 2019.”

The End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland has called for urgent action to be taken at every political level.

A total of 24% of children in Fife were deemed to be in poverty, with 19% in Angus and 17% in Perth and Kinross.

Angela Constance.