The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Action to tackle child poverty to be outlined

-

A report on the progress made towards tackling child poverty in Scotland will be made at Holyrood.

Communitie­s secretary Aileen Campbell will update MSPs today on the action taken by the Scottish Government to meet its poverty targets.

As part of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill passed in February 2017, the target set was for less than 10% of children in Scottish households should be living in relative poverty by 2030.

It also set out that less than 5% should be living in absolute poverty, living with combined low income and material deprivatio­n and living in persistent poverty.

The Act also set a requiremen­t for ministers to publish child poverty delivery plans at regular intervals, with annual reports to measure progress.

Scottish Government analysis shows it has invested more than £500 million in the last year to support low-income families.

The government also said it has spent more than £125m mitigating UK austerity.

Mrs Campbell said: “As the only country in the UK with ambitious income-based targets to eradicate child poverty, Scotland is firm in the belief that we can do better, and we will.

“That is why today I will set out to Parliament the progress we have made in the past year on child poverty and our next steps.”

She added: “Our actions stretch right across government to help people on low incomes at every stage of life.

“From new devolved benefits offering support during pregnancy through to starting school, promoting the real living wage and ensuring everyone has a warm, secure place to call home, we have a concerted and clear strategy.

“It is a long-term commitment to the people in Scotland who need the help the most.”

 ??  ?? Aileen Campbell MSP.
Aileen Campbell MSP.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom