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MORE than 150 organisations from across civic Scotland have united to call for a Holyrood Budget that takes on child poverty.
With just three weeks until the SNP-Green Scottish government publishes its draft Budget, trade unions, charities, community and faith groups have signed a joint letter calling for the Scottish child payment to rise from £25 to 30 “as a first step” in that fight.
The payment to low-income families was introduced in 2021 at a rate of £10, rising to £25 in November 2022, but campaigners argue an uplift is overdue after a year of double-digit inflation and an ongoing “cost-of-greed” crisis that is hitting the poorest hardest.
The letter — among whose signatories are the STUC general secretary, the children’s commissioner and the Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow — says the cash boost must only be one part of a concerted investment across early years education, childcare, employability, fair work, family support and housing if child poverty targets are to be met.
Child Poverty Action Group Scotland director John Dickie said: “Today’s letter to the First Minister demonstrates the largest yet coalition of support for a further increase to the Scottish Child Payment and a prioritising of child poverty across government spending.
“The First Minister himself has said his defining mission is to shift the dial on child poverty and that he wants to see the child payment increased to £30 in his first Budget.
“It’s now critical for Scotland’s children that his tax and spending plans deliver on those commitments.”
STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “Child poverty is an absolute scandal that should shame those in positions of power.
“The STUC is proud to support the call for significant additional investment to tackle child poverty in the upcoming Budget.
“During this cost-of-living crisis, raising the Scottish child payment from £25 to £30 per week is imperative to ensure that families have enough to live on.
“We need to see significant investment to improve the lives of millions and loosen the grip of poverty.”
Commenting on the letter, SNP Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The authors of this letter recognise the very real progress being made on child poverty because of policies the Scottish government has already put in place, which I welcome.
“We will continue to do everything within the scope of our powers and budget to meet our statutory child poverty targets.”
