the Wedding Planner

UK Wedding News

11/03/2014

Scottish Government To Tackle Child Poverty

The Scottish Government has unveiled plans which aims to tackle the issue of child poverty in the region.

The move comes after new statistics reveal that 80,000 children from working families are now living "below the bread line".

Over half of children (52%) living in poverty are from households where at least one adult was working, but for two-parent families with children living in poverty, this figure jumps to 72%.

In consultation with the Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty, the Government developed the report 'Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland: Our Approach 2014-17' to address the causes of poverty.

The actions include:

• Maximising household resources through advice on welfare and benefit changes, help to find employment and managing debt.

• Improving children's life chances through actions on educational attainment, health and early years development.

- - - - - - Advertisement - - - - - -
The Party Photobooth Limited

• Making sure children's environment is suitable through actions on housing, regeneration and community empowerment.

The strategy also outlines measures to provide help for hard-pressed working families, as well as those who are unemployed as pressures from Westminster welfare reforms continue.

Launching the strategy, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "We know that work can reduce the risk of poverty, but work is not always enough on its own.

"This strategy continues our preventative approach aimed at maximising household resources, improving children's life chances and providing sustainable places.

"However we now have an increasing focus on mitigating against the harmful effects of Westminster welfare reforms. These changes to the system will not only impact on the most vulnerable in our society – they will also set progress back at least ten years.

"It's frustrating, when so much work has been done, to see Child Poverty Action Group highlight 100,000 more children in Scotland will be pushed into poverty because of these unfair policies by 2020."

She continued: "In an independent Scotland we would have the powers to provide one of the most comprehensive child care packages in Europe which would allow more women to work. We would also be able to set up a commission to consider a new 'Scottish Minimum Wage' – which would at least rise in line with inflation.

"That's why we need the full powers of independence to create a different approach – one that supports our most vulnerable, encourages people into the workplace and provides a fair day's pay for a fair day's work."

(JP)

Top stories


20/03/2020
LeToya Luckett-Walker Is Pregnant

Charlotte Crosby Finds New Romance

Lydia Bright Gets Candid About Giving Birth

Lana Del Ray Splits From Boyfriend

Angelica Ross Learns Of Boyfriend's Secret Life

Ashley Graham's Breastfeeding Struggle

Susanna Reid's Mother's Day Plans

Lin-Manuel Miranda Homeschooling Kids

Kristen Bell Speaks Of Pride For Daughters

Prince George & Princess Charlotte Now Homeschooled
more infomore info
0 3.144.187.103 Ban:1, But:2 23/04/2024

"The Scottish Government has unveiled plans which aims to tackle the issue of child poverty in the region."