Priorities for the 2023-24 Programme for Government

Tackling child poverty in Scotland is a priority for the Scottish government, and the government's policies are working to reduce child poverty. However more needs to be done to ensure Scotland meets it's legally binding child poverty targets. We have set out what the Scottish government's spending priorities should be to ensure child poverty targets are met. 

SUMMARY

The Scottish government’s Programme for Government 2023-24 must:

• Increase the Scottish child payment at the very least to £30 per week from April 2024, as committed by the First Minister in his leadership campaign. To be sure of bringing child poverty below 18% analysis suggests a £40 Scottish child payment is needed.
• Ensure sufficient resources are harnessed and allocated to fund the wider measures set out in the statutory child poverty delivery plan - Best Start, Bright Futures.
• Provide additional cash payments to families impacted by the two-child limit and the under 25 penalty in universal credit.
• Continue to provide sufficient investment in Best Start payments to, at the very least, ensure they retain their real terms value.
• Expand income maximisation and advice services, including the training of new advisers.
• Invest in childcare so not only can the actions in Best Start, Bright Futures be delivered, but every parent can access the childcare they need, when they need it. 
• Keep the commitment to increase the minimum school clothing grant in line with inflation.
• Ensure that schools have sufficient resources to remove cost barriers, including to provide every child with a device and connectivity; remove costs for curriculum related trips and activities and ensure all pupils are able to attend ‘rite of passage’ trips.
• Roll out free school meals to all primary school pupils and create a timetable for the introduction of universal free school meals in secondary schools.
• Make further investment in the Scottish welfare fund, including the administration and promotion of the fund to ensure it can meet demand. 
• Ensure local authorities receive sufficient funds and clear guidance to enable them to use local powers to provide payments to migrant families whose status limits their rights to social security benefits.
• Be bold in using tax powers in a progressive way to ensure sufficient resources are available to fully deliver on the actions that are needed to tackle child poverty.