The Commission has published a new child poverty scrutiny report, giving its views on progress made during 2024-25 towards meeting Scotland’s statutory child poverty targets. The Commission has also published modelling from WPI Economics that has informed its views and recommendations.
In preparing the Scottish Government’s annual Child Poverty Progress Report, Scottish Ministers must consult the Poverty and Inequality Commission on the progress that is being made towards meeting Scotland’s statutory child poverty targets.
The Commission’s report commends the Scottish Child Payment, saying it demonstrates that decisive policy action by the Scottish Government can have a real and measurable impact in reducing child poverty.
But it also notes that all four interim child poverty targets for 2023/24 have been missed, and adds that the Scottish Government must raise its ambitions to bridge the gap between the current situation and where we need to be in 2030/31. The Scottish Government needs more policies or actions with as great an impact as the Scottish Child Payment if they are to meet 2030 child poverty targets.
Professor Stephen Sinclair, Chair of the Poverty and Inequality Commission, said:
“The latest child poverty statistics published in March showed that all four interim child poverty targets have been missed, despite there being signs of progress in relation to two of the four – relative and absolute child poverty.
“Delivery of the Scottish Child Payment continues to be a success and the Scottish Government’s commitment to mitigate the impact of the UK Government’s two-child benefit limit is welcome. However, the Scottish Government has made limited progress in 2024/25 on delivering the other major actions set out in its Best Start, Bright Futures plan.
“There is clearly no lack of belief that child poverty is deeply damaging for children and society in Scotland and that it needs to be eradicated.
“However, our report also makes it clear that the Scottish Government must take decisive action now if it is to have any chance of delivering on the 2030 child poverty targets.”
Read the full scrutiny report here.
Read the child poverty modelling carried out by WPI Economics on behalf of the Commission.