November 2025
The Poverty and Inequality Commission has published its advice to the Scottish Government for its next Child Poverty Delivery Plan (2026–2031), which the Scottish Government must publish before April 2026.
Our advice is clear: ending child poverty in Scotland will require the Scottish Government to use every lever at its disposal. Incremental change is not enough — bold, coordinated action is essential.
The Commission sets out targeted recommendations across key areas including social security, employment, and housing. We call for urgent progress towards a Minimum Income Guarantee, and an increase to the Scottish Child Payment, alongside action to improve the quality of employment, increase affordability of and access to childcare, and maximise the impact of affordable housing.
Key messages summary – Download a short summary of the main messages in the Commission’s advice (pdf)
Full report – Download the Commission’s full advice report (pdf)
Plain English summary – Download a summary of the Commission’s recommendations in plain English (pdf)