Child poverty targets have focused minds but more action needed – committee

The Scottish Government’s child poverty targets have “focused minds”, a Holyrood committee has said, but more action is needed to meet them.

The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act was passed in 2017 and set statutory targets for reducing levels to less than 18% living in relative poverty by 2023-24 and less than 10% by 2030-31.

The Bill also aimed to reduce absolute poverty to below 14% by 2023-24 and 5% by 2030-31.

Figures are due to be released in March to show if the Government has been able to meet the interim target – with the latest statistics showing 24% of children remain in relative poverty.

Since taking office, First Minister John Swinney has repeatedly said eradicating child poverty was his driving mission.

In a report released on Friday, the Social Justice and Social Security Committee at Holyrood said there had been a positive impact from the Bill but urged the Government to “intensify its efforts” to meet the targets.

“The committee heard that the Act and its measures have definitely served to focus minds and resources and kept the goal of reducing child poverty high on the agenda at national and local levels,” the report said.

“It has provided focus to the work of the Scottish Government and brought about necessary cross-government collaboration and motivated local partners to review their priorities. All of this has happened in the context of external factors outwith the control of the Scottish Government.

“The evidence we have received has however clearly shown that the measures in the Act have not resulted in enough defined action and prioritisation to bring about sufficient and sustained progress against the targets to eradicate child poverty.

“The committee also heard that more should be done to support and guide local authorities to improve and report on interventions at local level.

“Overall, the statutory approach has had a positive impact but of course the important thing is whether the Scottish Government succeeds in reducing child poverty.

“Change has taken place. The Scottish Child Payment is a good example of positive progress.

“However, change of an even bigger scale needs to happen, as we are still some way from meeting the targets.

“The Act does not specify what is to happen if targets are missed and the committee is looking forward to the Scottish Government sharing its vision for the coming years and hearing about how it will use learning so far to better inform and support strategy and delivery at local level.

“Through the Act, the Scottish Government chose to set targets. The Scottish Government needs to intensify its efforts and consider how it can better work across government and with local partners to meet those targets and maximise the impact and make a real difference to the daily life of children and families in Scotland.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We welcome the Committee’s report and will consider its findings and recommendations carefully.

“Eradicating child poverty is this Government’s top priority and national mission.

“According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s report this week, child poverty rates remain much lower in Scotland than in both England and Wales, due at least in part to our Scottish child payment.

“They predict that Scotland will be the only part of the UK to see child poverty reduce in the coming years as a result of the action we are taking.

“This is encouraging, but there is more to do. We are absolutely committed to meeting the 2030 child poverty targets, and will continue to do everything within the scope of our powers and budget to deliver the change needed.”