For immediate release:
ANTI-POVERTY PAYMENT COULD BENEFIT 12,000 CHILDREN IN SOUTH LANARKSHIRE
An estimated 11,800 children across South Lanarkshire could benefit from the Scottish Government’s ground-breaking anti-poverty payment, new figures have revealed.
The Scottish Child Payment will be worth £10 per child for low-income families by the end of 2022, with introduction for under-6s starting by early 2021.
Latest figures from the Scottish Fiscal Commission estimate that 194,000 children aged under six in Scotland will be eligible for the new Scottish Child Payment – with over 11,800 children and families estimated to benefit in South Lanarkshire.
The brand-new benefit was described as a “game changer” and a “lifeline” by anti-poverty campaigners and is central to the Scottish Government’s ambitions to tackle child poverty.
Commenting, local MSP Clare Haughey said:
“The Scottish Child Payment is an ambitious and ground-breaking new benefit which will directly tackle child poverty across the country.
“This support is needed more than ever, and when this additional £10 per week per child becomes available in February, it will be a lifeline for many families in Cambuslang and Rutherglen.
“It will help reduce financial pressures and demonstrates the potential of social security to make a positive difference and reflect our society’s shared values of compassion and fairness.”
ENDS
Notes:
Child Poverty Action Group – “game-changer”:
The below calculations use the NRS mid-year population stats by age and local authority Calculations are based on the latest 194,000 figure and are estimates of the local population.
| Council areas | Express as |
| Aberdeen City | over 8,000 |
| Aberdeenshire | over 10,000 |
| Angus | nearly 4,000 |
| Argyll and Bute | over 2,500 |
| City of Edinburgh | over 17,500 |
| Clackmannanshire | over 1,800 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | over 4,500 |
| Dundee City | over 5,200 |
| East Ayrshire | over 4,400 |
| East Dunbartonshire | about 4,000 |
| East Lothian | over 4,000 |
| East Renfrewshire | over 3,700 |
| Falkirk | about 5,700 |
| Fife | around 13,300 |
| Glasgow City | over 23,200 |
| Highland | around 7,800 |
| Inverclyde | over 2,500 |
| Midlothian | around 4,100 |
| Moray | over 3,100 |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | over 800 |
| North Ayrshire | over 4,400 |
| North Lanarkshire | nearly 13,000 |
| Orkney Islands | over 700 |
| Perth and Kinross | over 4,800 |
| Renfrewshire | over 6,300 |
| Scottish Borders | over 3,800 |
| Shetland Islands | over 800 |
| South Ayrshire | over 3,500 |
| South Lanarkshire | over 11,800 |
| Stirling | over 3,000 |
| West Dunbartonshire | over 3,200 |
| West Lothian | over 7,200 |
In June 2019, the Scottish Government had forecast that 170,000 children aged under six will be eligible for the Scottish Child Payment. This figure was presented at the first policy position paper for the Scottish Child Payment and has been used since then to respond to press enquiries, and most recently in the PfG. Estimates were most recently shared with media in January 2020 – https://www.gov.scot/news/170-000-children-eligible-for-new-benefit/
Once fully rolled-out to under 16 year olds, in 2022-23, thee Scottish Fiscal Commission estimate that there could be 499,000 eligible children. The Scottish Government remains committed to rolling out the benefit to families with children under 16.
The headline figures used in the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s media release refer to the forecast caseload of recipient children as opposed to eligible children.
Clare Haughey MSP 