Swinney right to prioritize eradicating child poverty

– but “more action needed” say campaigners ahead of FM statement to Parliament

  • immediate above-inflation increase to the Scottish Child Payment needed as a “crucial first step”
  • “Existing commitments to expand funded childcare, close gender, disability and race employment gaps and deliver affordable family housing all need to be funded and built upon”

Members of the End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland have today (Wednesday 22 May) written to the First Minister welcoming his commitment to making ending child poverty his number one priority. But, they say, “more action will be needed to make the scale and pace of progress required”. The letter comes as the First Minister prepares to outline his ‘Priorities for Scotland’ in a statement to Parliament.

The signatories to the letter include Aberlour Children's Charity, Child Poverty Action Group, the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER), Save the Children and Oxfam (see below for full list). 

The letter describes recent Scottish Government data showing that one in four children in Scotland remain locked in poverty as “deeply concerning”. In what they describe as “a crucial first step”, the campaigners urge the First Minister to demonstrate the importance he attaches to reducing child poverty by delivering an immediate above-inflation increase to the Scottish Child Payment and to commit to ensuring it reaches at least £40 per week by the end of the parliament. The payment, currently £26.70 per week, is available for children in families in receipt of   a qualifying benefit such as universal credit. 

 

Speaking on behalf of End Child Poverty members in Scotland John Dickie, Director of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said:

“We are all hugely encouraged by the First Minister’s commitment to make eradicating child poverty his number one priority but that commitment needs to be backed by immediate action to boost incomes through increases to the Scottish child payment and to remove the barriers to work that so many parents still face. Existing commitments to expand funded childcare, close gender, disability and race employment gaps and deliver affordable family housing all need to be funded and built upon. 

With one in four children still locked in poverty and the 2030 child poverty target date looming, there is no time to lose. There is nothing inevitable about child poverty. With political will, sustained and deep commitment, and the right policies in place, it can be eradicated.”  

 

End Child Poverty coalition members in Scotland say delivering the First Minister’s ambition to eradicate child poverty will need action across Cabinet portfolios to:

  • specifically tackle intersectional gender inequality and women’s poverty, 
  • invest in a system of childcare that enables women’s socio-economic and labour market equality, advances children’s rights, and addresses child poverty,
  • close disability and race employment gaps,
  • increase employment opportunities that work for parents and unpaid carers while using every devolved lever available to encourage employers to provide good quality work,
  • target action for the priority groups within the Child Poverty Delivery Plan, for example, children living in minority ethnic households, given their disproportionately high child poverty rate,
  • increase employability support which is tailored to meet the needs of parents in the Child Poverty Delivery Plan priority families,
  • deliver an adequate supply of affordable, secure, and good quality family housing,
  • boost support to migrant women and children,
  • invest substantially in paid and unpaid care, those who experience it and all those who provide it, and work to address the undervaluation of caring in our society,
  • ensure that holistic whole family support – including practical, emotional and financial support – is available to all families needing help,
  • tackle the debt crisis and the role public debt plays in trapping families in poverty, 
  • use devolved tax powers progressively and ambitiously to raise the revenue needed to boost investment in the full range of actions needed to end child poverty. 

ENDS

For more details, or interviews please contact John Dickie, Director of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, on 07795 340 618

 

Signatories to the letter and members of End Child Poverty include:

SallyAnn Kelly OBE, Chief Executive, Aberlour Children’s Charity 

Fiona Steel, Director for Scotland, Action for Children

Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland

Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive, Children 1st

Dr Judith Turbyne, Chief Executive, Children in Scotland

Anna Ritchie Allan, Executive Director, Close the Gap

John Dickie, Director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland

Jatin Haria, Executive Director, The Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER)

Calum Campbell, on behalf of the End Child Poverty Youth Ambassadors

Catherine Murphy, Executive Director, Engender

Prof. Nancy Loucks, Chief Executive Officer, Families Outside

Martin Dorchester, CEO, includem 

Satwat Rehman, Director, One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS)

Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland

Amy Woodhouse, CEO, Parenting across Scotland

Peter Kelly, Director, Poverty Alliance

Claire Telfer, Head of Scotland, Save the Children

Polly Jones, Head of Scotland, The Trussell Trust