Wake up call for Ministers in London and Edinburgh: child poverty shame must end

Responding to latest figures showing one in four children in Scotland still live in poverty the Head of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, John Dickie, today said;

“The lack of progress on child poverty is shameful. Far too many children are growing up in families with hopelessly inadequate incomes. These figures should serve as wake up call to Ministers in London and Edinburgh. We need a ratcheting up of child benefit and tax credit support, more advice so that families get the support they are entitled to and decent wages and affordable childcare for parents who are working.

"The 2010 target to halve child poverty can be met. Failure to achieve it would not be due to a lack of national wealth, but to a lack of moral leadership. As a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty we are calling for the £3billion investment to be found that would ensure that target is met.

Ministers cannot take a holiday from their promise to end child poverty, or progress, as these figures show, grinds to a halt. Every year progress must be planned, invested in and achieved. “

Media contacts:
John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland on 0141 552 3656 mobile 07795 340 618

Notes for editors

• CPAG is one of over 100 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.
• Further briefing on child poverty figures is available. Contact John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland on 0141 552 3656 or 07795 340 618
• Scottish Government analysis of child poverty figures can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/226557/0061262.pdf