Child poverty campaigners set out programme for Scottish government

  •   Proposals shared with MSPs ahead of Ministerial statement on child poverty progress
  • "All of Scotland’s policy levers, tax and spending powers must be used to the fullest" say campaigners

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland has today (17th June) sent a proposed 'Programme for Government' to all MSPs setting out the action needed to secure further progress on child poverty.

The campaigners say that the new Parliament must ensure ending child poverty is at the heart of policy across government, and that employment, childcare and housing policy will be crucial. They stress that further improvements in social security will also be needed, both to improve the adequacy of Scottish family benefits and to ensure families aren't missing out on vital support.

Speaking ahead of a Ministerial Statement on child poverty at Holyrood tomorrow (Thursday) John Dickie, Director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG ) in Scotland, said:

"Parties across the political spectrum backed the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act in 2017 and continue to commit to the aim of ending child poverty. Our proposed programme for government sets out the policies that can deliver on that commitment.

Action over the last parliament, including increases to the Scottish child payment, have ensured that child poverty has fallen, in stark contrast to the UK as a whole. Yet an unacceptable one in five of our children are still locked in poverty. 

This is why we urge the Scottish government to bring forward a revised child poverty plan and ask MSPs of all parties to support policies that will drive down poverty further over the course of this parliament."

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland's 'Programme for Government 2026-31' includes calls to: 

  • Extend the planned increase to Scottish child payment for babies (to £40 a week) to all eligible children, as a step toward doubling its value to at least £55 per week by 2030.
  • Commence outstanding provisions of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2025 to enable gaps in Scottish child payment entitlement to be addressed, and to ensure the payment provides greater security for families whose earnings from work fluctuate by introducing a 12-week 'run on'.
  • Ensure high-quality school aged childcare is available to all parents during term time and school holidays.
  • Subsidise providers to deliver short periods of free childcare to help families when support for childcare costs from universal credit is not available
  • Use public procurement and public body wage setting powers to drive improvements in the quality of work.
  • Invest in the provision of affordable social housing, to ensure all children live in safe, secure and affordable homes.
  • Fund every school to fully remove cost pressures from families, and overcome poverty-related barriers to learning through expansion of free school meals,  extension of school clothing grants, provision of devices and connectivity, and funding access to ‘rite of passage’ residentials and school trips,

Mr Dickie continued;

"There is no question that budget pressures and long-term fiscal sustainability pose a real challenge for the new government. That is why it is more important than ever that the approach to public sector reform and to tax and spending decisions contributes to reducing child poverty, and to reducing the long-term costs that poverty imposes on our public services and economy."

Ends

For more background or interviews contact John Dickie Director of CPAG in Scotland on 07795 340 618 .

Notes:

CPAG in Scotland's proposed 'Programme for Government 2026-31' is published today (17th June) at https://cpag.org.uk/news/cpag-scotlands-programme-government