Campaigners welcome FM focus on tackling poverty but ‘disappointed’ no new support for families

  • “First Minister needs to move fast to turn today’s welcome words into concrete policy actions that boost family incomes now.”

Responding to the First Minister’s statement on his government’s priorities John Dickie, Director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, said:

“Humza Yousaf’s commitment to tackling child poverty as part of wider action to promote equality, opportunity and community is welcome, but it is disappointing that he has not taken this opportunity to announce any new support for hard up families. His leadership campaign pledge to increase the Scottish child payment to £30 in his first Budget was widely welcomed, as was his commitment to see what he can do before then. With the Scottish child payment losing real terms value by the day there is no time to waste. The one in four of Scotland’s children still living in poverty really can’t wait.”

Mr. Dickie continued:

“The First Minister needs to move fast to turn today’s welcome words into concrete policy actions that boost family incomes now. Increases to the Scottish child payment need to be accompanied by delivery of the promise to extend universal childcare to one- and two-year-olds as well as action to tackle the labour market inequalities that trap so many parents in poverty.”

Notes for editors

For further details or comment contact John Dickie, Director of CPAG in Scotland on 07795 340 618.

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  1. In the STV Leadership debate Humza Yousaf committed to look to increase the Scottish child payment from £25 to £30 in his first Budget. When pressed on this being a year away, he said in the meantime he would “certainly see what we can do”. Today’s statement included no action to increase the value of the Scottish child payment, or even ensure it holds its real term value.
  2. Analysis from IPPR Scotland suggests an increase to at least £40 in this parliament will be needed to meet child poverty targets.
  3. On childcare the Scottish government existing child poverty delivery plan commits to “develop our funded offers of early learning and childcare for children aged one and two, starting with low-income households within this Parliament, and to build a system of school age childcare, offering care before and after school, and during the holidays by the end of this Parliament.” In his leadership campaign Humza Yousaf further committed that “In my first budget as Scotland’s first minister, I will accelerate the rollout of free early years education for one and two-year-olds in Scotland – offering high-quality childcare for 22 hours a week, all year round.”
  4. In a briefing to MSPs ahead of todays statement and child poverty debate CPAG in Scotland called for the First Minister to:
    1. increase the Scottish child payment now. High inflation is reducing its real terms value rapidly. 
    2. mitigate the two-child limit through an additional payment of Scottish child payment to affected families.
    3. expand the universal funded childcare offer to one- and two-year-olds, deliver on school age childcare commitments, and remove wider barriers to decent jobs for parents.
    4. deliver on universal free school meal commitments. 
    5. invest in the Scottish welfare fund and its administration, to ensure it plays the fullest possible role in ending the need for foodbanks and charity aid.
    6. use Scotland’s tax powers to harness our collective wealth and income to protect and support our children and boost our economy.