Ariane Burgess of Highlands and Islands Greens has reacted to figures published by Social Security Scotland
A politician from Forres claims local child poverty levels are “shameful”.
Highlands and Islands Green MSP, Ariane Burgess, has highlighted ‘disgraceful’ levels of child poverty in Moray and her own constituency as figures from Social Security Scotland show that 4910 and 23,430 children in the regions are receiving the Scottish Child Payment (SCP).
She said: said: “In the face of shamefully high levels of child poverty, I am glad that local children and their families are supported by our Scottish Child Payment.
“No child should grow up in poverty - I’m proud that a key legacy of the Greens’ time in Government was the almost tripling of financial support for families through the Scottish Child Payment.”
Worth £26.70 per child each week or almost £1,400 per year, SCP goes to families receiving benefits such as Universal Credit to help with the cost of raising children.
It was introduced at £10-a-week in 2021 and then raised repeatedly as part of an agreement between the Scottish Greens and SNP Scottish Government.
The SCP has been described as ‘game-changing’ by child poverty experts and is estimated to be keeping around 50,000 children and their families out of poverty across Scotland.
Meanwhile, the UK is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
Ms Burgess said: “It is scandalous that we have a quarter of a million children living in poverty here in Scotland.
“The new Labour Government was supposed to bring in progressive change. Instead they have doubled down on cruel Tory policies like the two-child benefit cap which keep children in poverty.
“While the most powerful tools to tackle child poverty sit at Westminster, I’m proud that the Scottish Greens have secured transformational changes using the limited powers available to Holyrood, paid for by increasing tax on the highest earners.”