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The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Somerville rejects poverty target to be substantially missed
However, a new scrutiny report by the Poverty and Inequality Commission warned the 2030 aims were "not at all likely to be met". In an exclusive interview with The Herald on Tuesday, Ms Somerville said her government was ''determined' to meet the targets, before clarifying the targets 'absolutely' will be met. The report, led by the organisation's chair Professor Stephen Sinclair, said: 'On current trends, the Scottish Government is not at all likely to meet the child poverty targets. 'The interim child poverty targets for 2023-24 have been missed and the reduction in child poverty needed to meet the final 2030 targets are now very large. 'Data for 2024-25 will be available till next year, however - given the absence of major interventions to increase incomes or reduce costs during 24-25 – it seems unlikely that it will show a markedly more positive picture than 23-24. Read more: 'Modelling projections of child poverty into the years approaching the final target, based on current policy, suggest the 2030 targets will be missed, and missed by a substantial margin.' The report warned 'decisive action' must be taken now to allow 'any chance' for the targets to be met. While child poverty in Scotland is lower than other parts of the United Kingdom, there remains a 12 percentage point gap between the 2030 target and the current relative poverty rate of 22%. The report warns at least three more poverty-focused policies, on the scale of the Scottish Child Payment, are required. It also welcomes the announcement that ministers will mitigate the two-child benefit cap from March 2026, but warns that could only reduce poverty rates by two percentage points. As Ms Somerville announced the date of mitigation, The Herald asked Ms Somerville whether she was ashamed at the prospect of 2030 targets being missed. She did not respond to this question and instead said: 'We have more work to do. We know that we are making progress and we are clearly disappointed that the interim targets were not met but we are seeing relative poverty levels for children coming down. Read more: 'That's reassuring that we're moving in the right direction but we know that we have to do more.' She added: 'We are determined to meet the targets. We know it's a challenge but we are absolutely determined to make them.' Ms Somerville was asked if she could guarantee relative child poverty would be under 10% by 2030, while absolute poverty would not be above 5%. She said: 'Yes, [I give] an absolute commitment that we will meet those targets.' The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 set the legally binding targets, and included interim targets for 2023-24 which included reducing relative poverty to below 18% and absolute poverty to below 14%. These targets were missed, it was confirmed. Professor Sinclair said: 'The latest child poverty statistics published in March showed that all four interim child poverty targets have been missed, despite there being signs of progress in relation to two of the four – relative and absolute child poverty. 'Delivery of the Scottish Child Payment continues to be a success and the Scottish Government's commitment to mitigate the impact of the UK Government's two-child benefit limit is welcome. However, the Scottish Government has made limited progress in 2024/25 on delivering the other major actions set out in its Best Start, Bright Futures plan. 'There is clearly no lack of belief that child poverty is deeply damaging for children and society in Scotland and that it needs to be eradicated. 'However, our report also makes it clear that the Scottish Government must take decisive action now if it is to have any chance of delivering on the 2030 child poverty targets.' The Herald, alongside 23 leading charities, launched a campaign in April urging First Minister John Swinney to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week, for each child. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also urged to scrap the two-child benefit cap as a matter of urgency.
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
'UK inaction on child poverty must not exonerate Swinney'
The Herald, joined by 23 of the country's leading charities, told Mr Swinney to take "decisive action" ahead of next week's programme for government. It is almost a year since Mr Swinney entered Bute House, where he declared his central mission was to eradicate child poverty. Legally binding targets aim to reduce relative child poverty to under 10% by 2030 - however interim targets of 18% were missed last year. Charities have warned that without action, including increasing the Scottish Child Payment, the full targets will not be met. Professor Stephen Sinclair, chair of the Poverty and Inequality Commission, said the Scottish Government was right to highlight the detrimental impact of the two-child benefit cap. The policy, introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, and maintained by the current Labour government, restricts means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit to the first two children. Abolishing that cap would lift an estimated 250,000 children out of poverty overnight. The Scottish Government will abolish the benefit cap from 2026. Professor Sinclair told The Herald: "The Scottish Government, as shown by the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment and its commitment to mitigate the two-child benefit limit, they do have the powers and they could find the resources to address child poverty irrespective of whatever the UK Government are doing. 'So while I am sympathetic to the argument that this is not helping, continuing this policy, it doesn't exonerate the Scottish Government from using its full powers in order to take the further steps that are necessary. 'And what it has done so far is positive. We are seeing a reduction in child poverty in Scotland while it is at best plateauing and increasing in other parts of the UK but it's not meeting the interim child poverty targets. 'So although good is being done, sadly, it's not good enough. 'Addressing the two-child limit, as the Scottish Government has committed to doing is an important step. But we need further steps of equal significance to the Scottish Child Payment in order to meet the legal, statutory targets that all parties have signed up to.' Statistics published last month showed that child poverty in 2023-24 reduced from 26% to 22% in Scotland while absolute child poverty fell from 23% to 17%. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'Eradicating child poverty is the Scottish Government's top priority and we are committed to meeting the 2030 target unanimously agreed by the Scottish Parliament. 'Our policies are having to work harder rather than ever to make a difference, against a backdrop of a continuing cost of living crisis, rising energy costs and UK Government decision making. 'On average, households with children in the poorest 10% of households are estimated to be £2,600 a year better off in 2025-26 as a result of Scottish Government policies, with this value projected to grow an average of £3,700 a year by 2029-30. 'We are committed to doing all that we can with the 2025-26 Scottish budget prioritising action to eradicate child poverty, including through investment in breakfast clubs, employability support and to develop the systems to mitigate the two-child limit. 'However, decisions taken by successive UK Governments are holding us back, and the Department for Work and Pensions' own figures show that proposed welfare cuts will drive 50,000 more children into poverty.' The Scottish Government will publish its third child poverty action plan by the end of March 2026, setting out the plans to meet the 2030 targets. Ms Somerville added: "I urge the UK Government to match the ambition and investment of the Scottish Government and to work with us to help end child poverty." A UK Government spokesperson said: 'No child should be in poverty - that's why our Ministerial Taskforce is exploring all levers available across government to give children across the United Kingdom the best start in life. 'As we fix the foundations of the economy to make everyone better off, our Get Britain Working plan and the landmark Employment Rights Bill will help people find and maintain better paid and more secure jobs with stronger rights. We have increased the National Living Wage and are capping how much Universal Credit can be taken for debt repayments to put more money in people's pockets and help families build a brighter future. 'Both of Scotland's governments must work together to help more people into work, while always supporting those who cannot.'
