Child Poverty Bill to be brought forward

Scotland is set to bring forward legislation intended to tackle child poverty for the first time in its history, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The new Child Poverty Bill will to set out a new approach to tackling poverty and inequality and will provide a clear way forward for delivering the government’s ambition to eradicate child poverty.

The Scottish government has previously rejected the UK government’sdecision to abandon income-based child poverty targets, and is seeking to develop Scottish legislation after the UK government repealed large parts of the existing UK-wide legislation.

The announcement came this week as the First Minister announced she was re-appointing Naomi Eisenstadt as the Scottish government’s independent poverty advisor for another 12 months.

A consultation setting out proposals for the bill will be published over the summer, building on the existing work the government’s Child Poverty Strategy.

Speaking during a visit to the Prince’s Trust, the First Minister said: “The consultation and bill will allow us to refine our approach and ensure it best meets the needs of those who so desperately need it and I am delighted to announce it on the same day as I announce Naomi’s reappointment. Her work has provided hugely valuable insight into our proposals in tackling inequality and given the Scottish government a clear focus for going forward.

“By repealing large parts of the Child Poverty Act 2010, including the income-based child poverty targets, the UK government has signalled that they do not see child poverty and the incomes of poor families as priorities. That is fundamentally wrong. With the introduction of this new legislation, the Scottish government is sending the message, in the strongest possible terms, that we profoundly disagree.

“We will be working closely with Naomi and others, including our Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty, to develop our proposals, reflecting the importance we continue to place on this challenge of protecting the most vulnerable in society.”

Ms Eisenstadt said: “Everyone in Scotland has a role to play in helping to eradicate child poverty, and a new Child Poverty Bill is a positive, practical and constructive step forward which will place in statute Scotland’s welcome commitment to tackling child poverty.

“This legislation will maximise the chances that all people living in Scotland lead productive and healthy lives. We need to stop the cycle of poverty and prevent the next generation of young people being born into poverty.”