1 in 5 Children Still In Poverty

Just over one in five Scottish children are living in relative poverty, that equates to 210,000 youngsters.

The figure, after housing costs (AHC), for 2013-14 is 40,000 lower than the previous 12 months.

Material deprivation is rising, meaning more families are unable to provide the things to help a child progress at scholl, such as computers, good quality food, a place to work, toys, books and games.

A household is described as living in relative poverty when its income is below 60 per cent of the UK median income.

Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil has labelled the figures "unacceptable", while the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland is urging Chancellor George Osbourne to not cut working tax credits.

Those in relative poverty:

All Scots:

• 14 percent BHC (730,000)
• 18 percent AHC (940,000)

Children:

• 14 percent BHC (140,000 )
• 22 percent AHC (210,000)

Working-age adults:

• 14 percent BHC (440,000)
• 19 percent AHC (600,000)

Pensioners:

• 15 percent BHC (160,000)
• 12 percent AHC (120,000)

In work poverty:

• 48 percent of all adults in poverty (BHC)
• 50 percent of all adults in poverty (AHC)
• 56 percent of children (BHC & AHC)

John Dickie from the Child Poverty Action Group said the Scottish Government can still do plenty to keep rates low:

Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said the "unacceptable" levels of child poverty in Scotland "show the shocking reality" of the UK Government’s spending measures.

“Westminster’s approach of slashing budgets is having a damaging impact in Scotland with 210,000 children now living in relative poverty. 

“While these figures are inexcusable, I dread to think how many more people will be pushed into distress and despair as a direct result of the UK Government’s proposed £12 billion cuts to the welfare budget.

“The report shows that while incomes have increased, changes to living standards have not improved for many families after housing costs are accounted for.

“The UK Government should call a halt to future cuts which will put more children into poverty.

“In 2013/14 350,000 families in Scotland relied on tax credits to boost their incomes with 500,000 children benefitting from this support. It is ludicrous for the UK Government to consider cutting this lifeline for thousands of families and will have a devastating impact on children.

'More than money'

A 20 page version of the report will be issued in partnership with the Poverty Truth Commission, which will includes quotes from people in poverty to give the numbers "meaning, and to highlight that poverty is about more than money.

Poverty Truth Commission co-ordinator Elaine Downie explained: “Too often people living in poverty are viewed as a problem or a series of problems – they are labelled as ‘Scroungers’, ‘Benefits Cheats’, ‘Undeserving’ - people to be pitied or people to be blamed.

“At the Poverty Truth Commission we know that the opposite is true. People living in poverty are first and foremost people. People who may have been sanctioned, people on the minimum wage who may have to rely on food banks at the end of the month, people who may have to struggle every single day - and people who understand their situation better than anyone else on the outside looking in. Stigma reinforces the idea that those living in poverty are always in need of help. This is both obstructive and untrue. Those experiencing poverty face countless barriers to improving their own situation, yet they possess the resilience, determination and capability to do so.

“We know the importance of seeing the stories behind the statistics. The importance of remembering that we are talking about people, not just numbers. And the importance of remembering that each of those numbers represents a person – a person with a name.”