Government unveils plan to ‘significantly reduce’ child poverty by 2030

The Scottish Government has outlined its vision for ending child poverty with the launch of a consultation of its Child Poverty Bill.

The bill, which will be introduced next year, will set the framework for making progress towards reducing deprivation significantly by 2030.

It proposes protecting families’ income by law, with the aim that less than 10 per cent of children should live in relative poverty and less than 5 per cent in absolute poverty.

The consultation also suggests that less than 5 per cent should live in a low income or materially deprived home or live in persistent poverty.

The targets, which are to be calculated after housing costs have been deducted, are to be achieved within 14 years.

Launching the consultation document in Dundee yesterday, cabinet secretary for equalities Angela Constance said the next steps will build on the range of work the Scottish Government already has underway to tackle poverty and inequality.

Ms Constance said: “This government has vowed to take action to tackle child poverty and we have already done a lot of work in this area but we want to go further.

“We’ve promised children a better start in life and more opportunities as they grow up; we’ve offered parents more and better-paid jobs and greater security in which to bring up their families; and we are committed to tackling deep-seated inequalities, especially in education and health.

Measures which the Scottish Government has already introduced to tackle deprivation and inequality include promoting the Living Wage, free school meals and funded childcare.

Ms Constance added: “This isn’t only a job for government. The ambition to tackle child poverty must be shared across the whole of Scotland. I want to talk about how we can work together with local governments, businesses and the third sector, but most importantly with people who experience poverty.

“Around one in five children live in poverty in Scotland. This is simply unacceptable in a modern, thriving country like ours. I want to be absolutely clear that we are serious about our ambition to eradicate child poverty, and I want to work together with partners across Scotland to make that ambition a reality.”

The consultation also asks whether there are additional or alternative measures of poverty which should be considered; and how particular elements of the government’s approach – including its existing measurement framework and advisory structure – could be strengthened.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to introduce the Child Poverty Bill last month and reaffirmed the Holyrood’s rejection of the UK government’s decision to abandon income-based child poverty targets.

The announcement came on the same day the First Minister announced she was re-appointing Naomi Eisenstadt as the Scottish Government’s Independent Poverty Advisor for another 12 months.