Next UK government must be bold to tackle child poverty, urges Scottish minister

Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary has urged the next UK government to “be bold” in tackling child poverty, starting with increasing the country’s capital budget to boost housing.

“The reality is that every progressive measure put in place in Scotland simply cannot go on being cancelled out by punitive Westminster welfare policies,” she said. In 2017, the Child Poverty Act was passed, setting statutory targets to reduce relative poverty to 18%, absolute poverty to 14% and relative and material deprivation by 8% by the end of the 2023-24 financial year, on the road to further reductions by 2030.

“This lack of progress towards lower poverty rates needs to be understood in the wider context of recent years. “Despite these difficult circumstances, analysis suggests that our policy package is helping families.”Final figures on the interim targets will be released next year, with the report claiming forecast poverty levels are likely “to be around the level of the interim targets for relative and absolute poverty”.

United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Next UK government must be bold to tackle child poverty, urges Scottish ministerThe Scottish Government has legally-binding targets on child poverty to be met by 2030.
Source: Glasgow_Times - 🏆 76. / 59 Read more »

Tories want Scottish Government to put a cap on bus faresScottish Tory leader Douglas Ross is set to use the General Election campaign to urge the Scottish Government to cap bus fare journeys at £2.
Source: Glasgow_Times - 🏆 76. / 59 Read more »

Scottish Government urged to seize empty private homes and fix housing emergencyIt comes after the Scottish Government declared an unprecedented housing emergency because of the shortages of affordable properties.
Source: Daily_Record - 🏆 9. / 89 Read more »

Scottish Government to release more than 500 prisoners earlyTHE Scottish Government plans to release more than 500 prisoners early to ease overcrowding, it has announced.
Source: SunScotNational - 🏆 49. / 63 Read more »

Independence campaign paused by Scottish Government due to electionMAJOR pieces of Scottish Government business have been put on pause because of the looming General Election.
Source: SunScotNational - 🏆 49. / 63 Read more »

John Swinney warns Scottish Government faces 'enormous financial pressure'The new First Minister blamed 'high inflation, austerity, and Brexit' for Holyrood facing a massive spending squeeze.
Source: Daily_Record - 🏆 9. / 89 Read more »