New Bill aims to tackle child poverty in Scotland

Date: 26th July 2016
Category: Child poverty

Together has welcomed Nicola Sturgeon's announcement that Scottish Government are bringing forward the new Child Poverty Bill which aims to set out a new approach to tackling deep-rooted causes of poverty and inequality.

The legislation is intended to provide a clear way forward for delivering the Government's ambition to eradicate child poverty. The Scottish Government has previously rejected the UK Government's decision to abandon income-based child poverty targets, and is seeking to develop Scottish legislation after the UK Government repealed large parts of the existing UK-wide legislation.

The announcement came on the same day the First Minister announced she was re-appointing Naomi Eisenstadt as the Scottish Government's Independent Poverty Advisor for another 12 months.

A consultation setting out proposals for the Bill will be published over the summer, building on the existing work of the Child Poverty Strategy.

Speaking during a visit to the Prince's Trust, the First Minister said:

"It is simply unacceptable that children are growing up in poverty and we must do all we can to tackle the inequality that still exists in 21st century Scotland.

"While we have made progress as a government through the Child Poverty Strategy, it's clear from feedback from my Independent Poverty Advisor, Naomi Eisenstadt, and others that we must keep striving to do more and we need to do more to enshrine our distinctly Scottish approach in law.

"The consultation and Bill will allow us to refine our approach and ensure it best meets the needs of those who so desperately need it and I am delighted to announce it on the same day as I announce Naomi's reappointment. Her work has provided hugely valuable insight into our proposals in tackling inequality and given the Scottish Government a clear focus for going forward."

• See the full Press Release here.