Cash boost to tackle child poverty

A £100,000 increase has been announced to tackle child poverty in Scotland.

The cash will enable the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) to increase advice services it provides.

Equalities Secretary Angela Constance said the introduction of Universal Credit has had a damaging impact on people. At CPAG’S annual conference on welfare rights at the University of Strathclyde yesterday, she said CPAG services had come under pressure in relation to the roll out of Universal Credit.

She said: “This builds on the important work they undertake to provide training and support with complex cases, having supported more than 470 organisations during the last year alone.

“Just a week ago, the National Audit Office’s Rolling Out Universal Credit report provided more damning evidence that Universal Credit is failing.”

Ms Constance said she wrote to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, calling for the roll out of Universal Credit to be halted until “fundamental flaws” can be fixed.

She added: “It is high time that they listen to what we are saying.”