Last week the Scottish Government published its Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan which pledged to prioritise increasing family incomes and reducing living costs.

Actions include plans to develop a new income supplement, which would provide financial support to families who need it most. A new £12 million employment support fund will help parents in work progress their careers and support unemployed parents into work.

Other initiatives include a new national entitlement for the School Clothing Grant, to help with the costs of uniforms and sports kits, and new support for after-school and holiday childcare, helping parents work more flexibly and increase their incomes.

Callum Chomczuk, deputy director of CIH Scotland, welcomed the announcement but called for more focus on affordable housing.

He said: “Figures published just last week show that child poverty is, for the first time in two decades, on the increase in Scotland.

“With over a quarter of million children living in undue hardship it is clear there is a need for a collective effort to eradicate child poverty.

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s delivery plan but as previously noted by the First Minister’s independent poverty adviser, Naomi Eisenstadt, the lack of affordable housing is one of the major determinants of poverty.

“In order to truly abolish child poverty we need to tackle some of the major structural issues, which means ensuring every family, in every community has an affordable home.

“The government has made a welcome commitment to the delivery of 50,000 affordable homes over this Parliament, however it is crucial that their focus on this is redoubled so that we are we are building the right types of home and in the right place for Scotland’s children.”

The delivery plan is a key feature of the Child Poverty Act and will be backed by a range of investment, including a £50m Tackling Child Poverty Fund.

Communities secretary Angela Constance said: “In a country as prosperous as Scotland no child should have their chances limited by poverty. These actions are the next step in meeting our ambitious child poverty targets designed to give every child every chance, and tackle deep-seated generational poverty.

“Under UK government cuts, money being is taken from the pockets of low income families, pushing them into crisis, debt, and poverty, with our public services and emergency aid responding as best they can. Further cuts will continue to hurt families, children, and even entire communities – instead, we want to invest in everyone’s future.

“That is why we will take action to increase household incomes and reduce costs, supporting children and families here and now. And we will tackle the longer term impacts of poverty, and improve life chances – ensuring that children living in poverty now never have to be parents of children in poverty.

“We know that this is not an issue that can be solved by one policy or portfolio – our plan will be taken forward right across government. Collectively, we will tackle child poverty and ensure the very best outcomes for children today, and generations to come.”