The Westminster government could cut child poverty in the UK by a sixth – or 700,000 children – if they were to match Scotland’s investment in social security, according to a new report.
The report, from the Changing Realities collaboration, led by Professor Ruth Patrick of the University of York and London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), comes as the UK Government announced cuts to social security in recent days, which their own impact assessment shows will increase poverty.
Annual poverty statistics show that a growing gap is emerging between the poverty rates of Scottish children, when compared to those in the rest of the UK.The Scottish Government has provided targeted investment at families with children, including through the flagship Scottish Child Payment, which provides £26.70 per child per week for families on a low-income. This means that a family with three children would receive almost £5,500 more a year in household income than their English counterpart.
The new report found that if the UK Government were to match this investment (equivalent to £400 per child per year), they could reduce child poverty by 5 percentage points.
The report sets out how the UK Government could switch the dial on child poverty, and shares the priorities of change for parents living in poverty in the UK today.
he report, from the Changing Realities collaboration, led by Professor Ruth Patrick of the University of York and London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), comes as the UK Government announced cuts to social security in recent days, which their own impact assessment shows will increase poverty.
Annual poverty statistics show that a growing gap is emerging between the poverty rates of Scottish children, when compared to those in the rest of the UK.The Scottish Government has provided targeted investment at families with children, including through the flagship Scottish Child Payment, which provides £26.70 per child per week for families on a low-income. This means that a family with three children would receive almost £5,500 more a year in household income than their English counterpart.
The new report found that if the UK Government were to match this investment (equivalent to £400 per child per year), they could reduce child poverty by 5 percentage points.
The report sets out how the UK Government could switch the dial on child poverty, and shares the priorities of change for parents living in poverty in the UK today.
