New report highlights "scandalous" levels of poverty in Scotland
30.06.04

A new report from Sheffield University highlights scandalous levels of poverty in Scotland, according to the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland.

"We can't overplay what a scandal it is that in 21st Century Scotland over 40% of Glaswegians are still living in poverty" says John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland. "And it's not just a Glasgow problem. Across Scotland over a quarter of Scottish children live below the official poverty line.

"These are not just boring statistics. They represent tens of thousands of children going without basics. Without a warm coat. Without fresh fruit and vegetables. Without properly fitting shoes. They mean tens of thousands of children missing out on school trips, on hobbies and on visits to friends and families.

"Holyrood and Westminster governments "must do more"

John Dickie continues:

"We really must see more urgency from both Westminster and the Scottish Executive in removing the blight of poverty from our society. From London we need to see increases in tax credits and benefits. We also need to see serious increases in the minimum wage. It's ridiculous that half of poor children actually live in working families. The Executive must also do much more to increase the disposable incomes of our poorest families, through, for example, extending free school meal entitlement, axing prescription charges and extending the availability of free childcare to help make work pay for low income families."

For further information
John Dickie, Head of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
Mobile 0779 534 0618, Office 0141 552 3656, Home 0131 661 6734

Notes

• CPAG in Scotland promotes action for the relief, directly or indirectly, of poverty among children and families with children. We work to ensure that those on low incomes get their full entitlement to welfare benefits. In our campaigning and information work we seek to improve benefits and policies for low-income families, in order to eradicate the injustice of poverty
• Details of the Sheffield University researchers report People and places A 2001 Census atlas of the UK are available at www.sheffield.ac.uk/sasi/publications/peopleandplaces.htm