Citizens’ income will see child poverty soar

The prospect of a so-called Citizens’ Income being introduced in Scotland could actually increase relative child poverty levels, new research indicates.

Nicola Sturgeon has backed plans to trial the scheme in Scotland. But the IPPR think tanks says a weekly level of £100 for adult and £50 per week per child would cost £20billion per year and increase relative child poverty by up to 35,000. Alternatively, topping up the child element of Universal Credit by £150 monthly could lift 100,000 children out of relative poverty, at a much lower cost of £950 million a year.

Russell Gunson, director of IPPR Scotland, said: “There may be a number of good reasons to consider the introduction of a Universal Basic Income in Scotland but it seems reducing relative child poverty is not one of them.”