MSPS pass ‘historic’ legislation aimed at tackling child poverty
Holyrood has passed “historic” legislation making Scotland the only part of the UK with statutory targets to cut child poverty.
MSPS unanimously backed the Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Bill at its final parliamentary hurdle.
Equalities Secretary Angela Constance told the chamber its passing marked “an historic milestone on our road to eradicating child poverty”. “The bill signals the importance that we as a Parliament and as a country place on tackling the unacceptable levels of child poverty across Scotland,” she said.
In 2015-16, one in four children in Scotland were living in relative poverty after housing costs.
Scottish ministers will now be required to ensure that by 2030 fewer than 10 per cent of children are in relative poverty, defined as those living in a home earning below 60 per cent of the current median UK household income.
Fewer than 5 per cent of children should be in absolute poverty, meaning households earning below 60 per cent of the 2010-11 national median income. Further targets are for fewer than 5 per cent of children to be assessed as being in combined low income and material deprivation, and fewer than 5 per cent in persistent poverty.