Campaigners welcome Child Poverty Bill, but condemn welfare reforms as “punitive and undignified”

Commenting on the Queen’s Speech, the Head of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, John Dickie said:

“With a scandalous one in four of Scotland’s children still living in poverty a Bill to enshrine the target to eradicate child poverty in law is extremely welcome. It should unite MPs of all parties in putting the wellbeing of children at the heart of UK government priorities. It is also be vital that the UK government, Holyrood and local authorities work together to make sure the UK legislation drives the change on the ground needed to end child poverty across Scotland once and for all”.

On the Government’s proposals for a Welfare Reform Bill, Mr. Dickie, said;

“As a leading member of the Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform we believe there is no question that reform of our welfare system is needed, but such reform needs to treat people with dignity, lift them out of poverty, be adequately resourced and fit with devolved policy on skills and childcare. The current proposals fail on all four counts and treat people in a punitive and undignified manner.”

Notes for editors

1. CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.
2. CPAG is one of over 130 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.
3. The Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform is a broad coalition of over 40 organisations concerned at the current UK Government’s welfare reform proposals.

For further details
Please contact John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland on 0141 552 3656