Director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, John Dickie responds to today's (2 April 2026) IFS Labour market, living standards and poverty trends in Scotland report.
Official government data published last week shows child poverty is falling in Scotland. Some caution is still required in interpreting these figures and further years of data will be needed to confirm the trend. Nevertheless, it is important that we don't ignore what the best available official data is telling us about what is happening to child poverty in Scotland.
There are 4 million children in poverty in the year April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25) new DWP statistics show. Today’s Households Below Average Income (HBAI) reports 4 million children – 27% – were in poverty in 2024/25. The two-child limit was in place in this period and will be removed from April 2026.
New official government data published today confirms child poverty is falling in Scotland. The number of children in poverty in Scotland fell from 25% between 2020-2023 to 21% in 2022 to 2025. Across the UK as a whole 27% of children were still living in poverty in 2024/25.
Universal credit (UC) is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of millions of children. More than two in five children in the UK live in a household that claims UC. CPAG welcomes the UC review, which is the first system-wide review since the benefit was introduced in 2013. There are many issues to consider including system design, policy decisions and delivery.
An independent evaluation of our work on education in Wales from 2023 to 2025 highlights its impact on children and schools. | Mae gwerthusiad annibynnol o'n gwaith ar addysg yng Nghymru rhwng 2023 a 2025 yn tynnu sylw at ei effaith ar blant ac ysgolion.
New child poverty statistics (for 2024/25) will be published on 26 March. There will be three key changes to the poverty statistics, outlined in this briefing.
Young people from the Cost of the School Day Voice network held a special event at the Scottish Parliament to share vital calls from their ‘School Shouldn’t Cost: The Young People’s Poverty and Education Manifesto 2026-31 to MSPs.
