Press Story

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Responding to the Scottish government’s child poverty action plan announced today, Dave Hawkey, senior research fellow at IPPR Scotland, said:

“Today's reiteration of the Scottish government's commitment to tackle child poverty is welcome. But the government’s own modelling anticipates current policies are on track to miss the 2030 target.

“Child poverty is an issue of inequality. Policies that focus only on one side of that equation can only do so much. Eliminating child poverty requires a greater degree of sharing across society, closing the gaps by working across the whole of the income spectrum. In practice, this means higher taxes and better funding of public services as the route to building collective prosperity.

“As global conflict brings another round of inflation into view, the imperative to support low-income families becomes ever more acute. Commitments in the action plan need to be accompanied by clarity in what the Scottish government will to do keep kids afloat in the short term if the cost-of-living crisis deepens this year.”

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:

Dave Hawkey, senior research fellow at IPPR Scotland, is available for interview.

CONTACT:

Sukhada Tatke, media and impact officer at IPPR Scotland: s.tatke@ippr.org; 07901169121

NOTE TO EDITORS:

IPPR Scotland released a briefing paper last year warning that the government is on track to miss its legally binding 2030 child poverty target unless it provides more social security support to families.
IPPR Scotland shapes public policy in pursuit of a fairer, greener, more prosperous Scotland.