PRIME MINISTER MUST SHOW HE IS SERIOUS ABOUT CHILD POVERTY

BEGINS

Local MSP, Clare Haughey, has said Andy Burnham “must show he is serious about child poverty” and match Scottish Government policies to help tackle child poverty.

It comes as new figures revealed the wide range of measures that the Scottish Government is implementing to keep children out of poverty in South Lanarkshire. 

Child poverty rates in Scotland remain lower than the UK average thanks to Scottish policies, with latest figures showing that here in South Lanarkshire:

  • 19,210 children are benefiting from the Scottish Child Payment which provides families with crucial financial support to help with the cost of raising children
  • 44,836 babies in the NHS Lanarkshire area have received a Baby Box packed with essential items for newborns worth around £420
  • 2.8 million free school meals were distributed to children in South Lanarkshire last year
  • 12.4 million free bus journeys have been made by young people in South Lanarkshire since the under 22s bus pass scheme was introduced. 

In addition to all of the above, the Scottish Government is spending £159 million this year to offset the damaging impact of cruel Westminster policies such as the Bedroom Tax and Benefit Cap.

Meanwhile, House of Commons analysis shows that if the UK Government matched Scottish policies across the UK, an additional 1.1 million children and 1.8 million adults would be lifted out of poverty.

As Challenge Poverty Week comes to an end, Clare Haughey has called on Andy Burnham to act, commenting:

“As Challenge Poverty Week draws to a close, Andy Burnham must show he is serious about supporting families and match Scottish Government policies to lift more than a million kids out of poverty.  

“These policies are delivering the best cost-of-living package in these islands, and thanks to action we have taken in government, the rate of child poverty in Scotland continues to be lower than the UK average.

“Despite the success of action taken in Holyrood, we continue fight child poverty with one hand tied behind our back – meanwhile cruel policies introduced by the Tories are being doubled down on by the current Labour UK Government.   

“Through the fresh start of independence, we will have the powers and controls over our vast resources to build a thriving economy, and a system that supports people in South Lanarkshire and across Scotland out of poverty.”

ENDS