Scotland Set to Be Only UK Region Where Child Poverty Rates Decline

Edinburgh: A report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) says Scotland’s child poverty could drop to 21.8% by January 2029. Right now, it’s about 23.7%.

Meanwhile, Wales is expected to see an increase from 32.3% to 34.4%. England’s rate will rise from 30.8% to 31.5%, and Northern Ireland’s will go from 25.5% to 26.2%.

The JRF report is a key annual look at UK poverty rates. It shows that by 2029, Scotland’s child poverty rate will be lower than in England and Wales. Scotland’s rate will be about 10 percentage points below the rest of the UK.

The report also highlights that nearly one in three children in England will still be in poverty. In Scotland, it will be closer to one in five. This difference is largely due to specific policies in Scotland.

If the rest of the UK matched Scotland’s progress, around 800,000 fewer children would be in poverty. The JRF used projections from the UK Government’s Office for Budget Responsibility for this research.

First Minister John Swinney has made fighting child poverty a top priority. In contrast, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party believes economic growth should come first.

The JRF warns that even with significant economic growth, child poverty rates may not change much. They stress that targeted policies are essential to reduce child poverty.

The report also notes that no English region is likely to see a drop in child poverty by 2029. Some regions may even see increases.

The JRF attributes Scotland’s better outcomes to welfare policies like the Scottish Child Payment. They suggest the UK Government should consider similar policies.

Chris Birt from JRF emphasizes the need for accountability from the Scottish Government. He points out that while progress is being made, there’s still a long way to go.

Fiona Steel from Action for Children in Scotland agrees. She acknowledges the progress but insists that the current child poverty rate is still too high.

Steel calls for all levels of government to work together to tackle child poverty effectively. She believes families need support from Westminster, Holyrood, and local authorities.

Labour Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill responded to the report. She stated that the UK Government is focused on putting more money in people’s pockets and improving workers’ rights.

McNeill highlighted reforms to Universal Credit, which will help families financially. She also mentioned the significant increase in the Scottish budget as a positive step.