WIREDGOV

Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil comments on a Child Poverty report from Save the Children, saying:

"This report illustrates the major challenges faced by the Scottish Government, not least in dealing with the massive £1.3 billion of cuts imposed by Westminster, as we tackle the causes and consequences of child poverty and wider inequality in our society.

"We are supporting thousands of families with innovative home-grown policies such as freezing council tax, free heating help, progressive abolition of prescription charges and the extension of free school meals.

"However, to achieve lasting change it is crucial that we secure real financial powers and importantly, responsibility for the benefits and tax credits system in Scotland. This is more important than ever as the UK government embarks on sweeping and savage changes to welfare which we know are going to penalise the poorest families in Scotland.

"Our robust efforts to support jobs, skills and training are paying off as Scotland has a higher employment rate and lower economic inactivity rate than the UK as a whole.

"Scotland's budget for next year will also deliver the highest ever number of modern apprenticeships in Scotland and 46,500 training opportunities - there will also be at least six months work in the third sector for up to 2000 young unemployed people. We have also implemented a living wage of £7.15 for 200,000 public sector workers, the level proposed by the Living Wage Campaign."

Related Information 

Severe Child Poverty: Nationally and locally   

Save the Children:  UK child poverty   

Poorer families forced to pay more for heating and services