‘Not Enough Progress’ On Poverty

More than 900,000 people in Scotland are living in poverty, including 240,000 children, a study has warned. The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland called on all parties to commit themselves to more concerted measures to eradicate poverty.

The figures come as the first minister will attend a poverty event in Glasgow. Mr McConnell has pledged to almost double the number of children entitled to free school meals and to create an anti-poverty unit.

The CPAG Poverty in Scotland 2007 report has been compiled by a partnership of academics, campaigners and frontline workers. It found progress had been made in reducing the numbers of people living in poverty, specifically among children and pensioners, but there had been no improvement among working age adults without children.

A fifth of the worst affected people lived in Glasgow and the city had a disproportionate share of Scotland’s poorest local areas. However, large numbers of people in poverty were also found to live in areas with lower concentrations of deprivation.

Factors contributing to the problem were found to be inequality, low pay, inadequate benefits, poor quality work opportunities and lack of support for those with caring responsibilities, ill health or those affected by disability.

The study welcomed progress made in tackling poverty, but calls for better targeted solutions. John Dickie, head of CPAG, said: “We all face some fundamental choices. Do we want our children to grow up in a society scarred by poverty, or are we willing to pay for the decent wages, benefits and services that would lift all Scotland’s people out of poverty?”

Dr Gerry Mooney, from the Open University in Scotland, an editor and contributing author of the CPAG report, also warned there was a “marked unwillingness” on the part of government to tackle the causes of inequalities in Scottish society.

Mr McConnell’s school meals proposal, to be launched at the event, is expected to be part of a package in the party’s manifesto for the next election. Currently, only children in very low income families and those whose parents are out of work are entitled to a free school meal – about 122,000 in total.

Under the proposals free school meals would be extended to a further 97,000 children whose parents receive working tax credit, at a cost of between £20m and £30m. Opposition moves to introduce universal free school meals have been rejected by ministers.

Key Poverty Indicators

  • A single person is in poverty if they are living on less than £100 per week
  • A lone parent family with two children (aged 5 and 11) are living in poverty if the are living on less than £186 per week
  • A couple with two children (again aged 5 and 11) are living in poverty if they are living on less than £268 a week
  • 910,000 people in Scotland live in poverty (18% of the population)
  • 240,000 children in Scotland in poverty (23% of all children)
  • Source: Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland