Budget speeds up action on child poverty targets, says Somerville

The Scottish Budget will speed up action on child poverty, a minister has said, while accepting there is no enforcement mechanism if the Government misses its targets.

Legally-binding targets were set by the Scottish Parliament in 2017 to reducing the number of youngsters in relative poverty to less than 10% by 2030.

The latest figures show 24% are living in relative poverty, leading to a broad range of charities and campaigners to warn the target will not be met.

The director of the Child Poverty Action Group Scotland last week warned the current policy package is “nowhere near adequate to ensure we reach the targets set out in the legislation”.

Holyrood’s Social Justice Committee carried out post-legislative scrutiny of the 2017 Child Poverty (Scotland) Act on Thursday.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Government is still committed to the targets and is “keen” to meet them.

Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour pressed her on what should happen if they are missed, saying: “I welcome the optimism from the Cabinet Secretary.

“However there is quite a lot of data out there from the third sector, who say we may not meet those targets.

“So, without trying to be Mr Scrooge and pessimistic, if for whatever reason we don’t, what would be the outcome?”

Ms Somerville said: “The Act itself doesn’t contain any specific enforcement provisions if one of the targets is not met.

“That’s how the Act was passed. But I know stakeholders are very keen to press us to pick up the pace on our delivery of the poverty targets.

“I believe the Budget that was set out yesterday does that, though I’m sure we’ll have further discussions on the Budget in the new year.”