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Child poverty – are we doing enough?

Child poverty – are we doing enough? . John Dickie Head of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland. Child poverty in Scotland: context. 150 000 (15%) children in poverty – rises to 200 000 (20%) after housing costs taken into account Some children at even greater risk

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Child poverty – are we doing enough?

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  1. Child poverty – are we doing enough? John Dickie Head of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland

  2. Child poverty in Scotland: context • 150 000 (15%) children in poverty – rises to 200 000 (20%) after housing costs taken into account • Some children at even greater risk • Families someone is disabled (1 in 3) • One parent families (nearly half) • Families without paid work (over two thirds) • affects families across Scotland • ECP child poverty map of Scotland www.endchild poverty.org.uk • Nearly every Scottish LA has areas where more than one in five children is living in poverty

  3. Child poverty in Scotland: context cont. • Nothing inevitable about this poverty • Not starting from scratch….. • Real progress: since 1996/7 160 000 fewer children in poverty in Scotland • Policy worked: at UK and Scotland level • …..but huge challenges ahead • £2billion welfare cuts, hitting poorest hardest • massive rises in child poverty forecast by IFS • up to 100 000 more children into poverty by 2020 • Independence referendum, but meanwhile devolved levers

  4. UK Child Poverty Act 2010 • enshrines targets to eradicate child poverty in legislation • sets four targets: relative low income, absolute low income, persistent poverty and low income/material deprivation • UK gov. duty to publish child poverty strategy every 3 years • statutory drivers must include employment and skills; financial support; health; education; childcare and housing. • ScotGov duty publish strategy every 3 years + annual report • duties on LAs and partners in England to produce local strategy – no equivalent duty in Scotland. • Social Mobility Commission and Child Poverty Commission – must report annually on progress. Scotland appoints one commissioner.

  5. Commission Report October 2013 • 2020 target likely ‘missed by a considerable margin’ • ‘do not believe the scale and effort is enough for progress to be likely’ • greater focus needed on in-work poverty • notes that Scotland has lowest child poverty and made greatest progress of any country in UK • says SG strategy ‘appears comprehensive’ but notes difficulties tracking progress, weaker focus on attainment gap than elsewhere in UK and gap in link between national strategy and local delivery

  6. Commission Report October 2013 • 2020 target likely ‘missed by a considerable margin’ • ‘do not believe the scale and effort is enough for progress to be likely’ • greater focus needed on in-work poverty • notes that Scotland has lowest child poverty and made greatest progress of any country in UK • says SG strategy ‘appears comprehensive’ but notes difficulties tracking progress, weaker focus on attainment gap than elsewhere in UK and gap in link between national strategy and local delivery

  7. Child poverty strategy for Scotland 2014 - 2017 • just published Monday www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0044/00445863.pdf • Outcomes to be achieved • Maximising household resources (pockets) • Improving children’s wellbeing and life chances (prospects) • well designed, sustainable places (places) • live in high quality sustainable housing and grow up in places that are physically, socially and economically sustainable • Outcomes framework - to become a measurement framework • Delivery plan? Accountability?

  8. The role of housing? • housing costs - clear impact on poverty • quality of housing – impact on children • also saps income e.g. energy costs • wider support to maximise incomes and access employment • Specific role in mitigating impact of welfare reform • as employers: living wage?progression?hours? • shared advocacy – shared campaigning

  9. How CPAG can help Training • Training, incl. e-learning http://elearning.cpag.org.uk Information • Welfare Benefits & Tax Credits Handbook 2013 • Free factsheets and Scottish handbooks online at www.cpag.org.uk • Sign up for e-bulletins • Universal credit and Appeals guides Advice • CPAG advice line for advisers 0141 552 0552 10am-4pm (Fri 10-12) Informing and policy influencing • Early Warning System: evidencing and informing

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