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The Herald Scotland
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
No evidence child payment deters work, admits Government
However, a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Common Weal think tank revealed the Government has carried out no research to support this. READ MORE: The group requested data on the number of households receiving the Scottish Child Payment where no adult is in work or retired, and what proportion of the total this represents. Social Security Scotland responded to say it did not hold the information, 'because employment status is not a requirement for Scottish Child Payment'. Separate official documents, published in July by the Scottish Government, stated the payment was 'not currently negatively affecting labour market outcomes at any scale in the economy'. The Herald led a series on the impact of child poverty in Scotland (Image: Damian Shields) Craig Dalzell, Head of Policy at Common Weal, criticised the First Minister's comments. He said: 'It is simply irresponsible for politicians to make statements and policy which have the potential for devastating effects on vulnerable children if they do not have the evidence to support those claims. 'Worse still, they should not make these statements if they have not even attempted to gather the information needed to know whether the statement is correct or not. 'The First Minister has basically decided not to increase support for children in poverty and then made up an excuse which he has absolutely no reason to believe is true. 'The stark reality is that most people in poverty are in work. Starving their children will not increase their pay.' John Dickie, Director of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said there was plenty of evidence showing that increasing the payment would reduce child poverty. 'There is no evidence that we are aware of that increasing the Scottish Child Payment would act as a disincentive to enter the labour market or reduce labour market participation in any significant way,' he said. 'On the other hand, there is a mountain of evidence that boosting the payment would reduce child poverty further, improve children's health and wellbeing, and act as an investment in Scotland's economic future. "If Scotland is serious about ending child poverty it is vital that politicians of all parties base their decisions on the evidence.' READ MORE: The Scottish Child Payment, which is available to families on means-tested benefits including Universal Credit, is currently set at £27.15 per child per week. As part of The Herald's Scotland's Forgotten Children series, we joined forces with 23 children's charities calling for the Scottish Government to raise the payment to £40 per week. Research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) suggests that this level of increase would lift an additional 20,000 children out of poverty. Modelling by the Fraser of Allander Institute separately found it could lead to a further 2.5 percentage point reduction in child poverty, putting the Scottish Government on track to meet its statutory targets. Ministers missed their legally binding interim target to reduce the number of children living in relative poverty — defined as below 50% of the UK median income — to 18% by 2023–24. The latest figure is 22%, down from 26% the previous year. Charities have welcomed the fall but warn that the Scottish Government is now at risk of missing its 2030 target of reducing relative child poverty to 10%. In last week's Programme for Government, the First Minister reiterated his commitment to eradicate child poverty. He said: "In the coming year, we will consult on, develop and publish a tackling child poverty delivery plan for 2026-31 - outlining the actions we will take with our partners for low-income families across Scotland to keep us on the journey to meet our poverty reduction targets for 2030." The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
The Herald Scotland
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
It's time for action to eradicate child poverty in Scotland
As Commissioner, I must listen extensively to children and young people from across the country. They tell me loud and clear that reducing poverty should be a priority. They describe how they are affected, the impact it has on their families, and seeing the impact on their friends. They can be direct, with one child sharing simply: 'My family can barely afford food and rent.' One young person told me they wanted food banks to hand out goods that didn't need to be cooked because putting the hob or oven on was too expensive. Another said their friend had to wear all their jumpers and jackets inside because they couldn't afford to put the heating on. This is the reality some children in Scotland are facing. The Herald's series investigates child poverty (Image: Damian Shields) The First Minister has committed to eradicating child poverty as his government's number one priority. The Scottish and UK governments both have duties, and different levers they can use, to tackle poverty. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was incorporated into Scots law last year, and it says governments must use all available resources to enable children to access all their rights. Increasing the Scottish Child Payment is one clear action the Scottish Government should take. In practice, this means increased financial support to families who need it. Families tell us that the money they have does not go far enough – we need social security to be increased, and for the UK Government to end the two-child benefit cap. Read more: Food bank support for children in Scotland 'worse than ever' 80,000 children currently live in 'very deep poverty' Rebecca McCurdy: I grew up in poverty - this is why I'm writing about it No child should be hungry, cold, or living in inadequate housing. Every child should have a safe, secure, and affordable home. There is an urgent need for more social housing. Children are experts in their own lives, and they have a right to be heard and for their views to be considered. When it comes to poverty, children need to be meaningfully involved in national and local child poverty action plans. Community organisations, youth workers, opportunities for sport and leisure are under increasing threat – we need investment and early intervention measures to support children and their families. Addressing child poverty must move from a vision to a reality. Politicians can and should make the necessary decisions to finally eradicate it. Nicola Killean is the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
