Poverty in Scotland - State of the Nation Report

Politicians respond to new ‘state of the nation’ Poverty in Scotland 2016 report

Poverty in Scotland 2016 is a unique publication drawing together the expertise of academics, anti-poverty campaigners and other experts both in Scotland and internationally. It is published by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), in association with The Open University in Scotland, Glasgow Caledonian University and the Poverty Alliance). 

The IFS projects a 50 per cent increase in relative child poverty – from 17.0 per cent in 2014-15 to 25.7 per cent in 2020-21 – and an increase in absolute child poverty from 16.7 per cent in 2014-15 to 18.3 per cent in 2020-21. The latter will mean that over a decade, the income of families towards the bottom of the income distribution has actually gone down – something without precedent in modern times. The Resolution Foundation’s Autumn 2015 projections suggest 200,000 more children will fall into poverty in 2016/17 as a direct result of measures in the Summer Budget. The projections below are based on income before housing costs are deducted.

• Experts set out ‘tools’ to transform Scotland toward a poverty free country
• Report published as IFS projections show 50% increase in poverty by 2020

 Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil, Scottish Labour’s Ken Macintosh, Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens along with Scottish Liberal Democrat and Conservative candidates Alex Cole-Hamilton and Iain McGill responded today (Wednesday 23^rd March) to a landmark ‘state of the nation’ publication bringing together the latest facts on the shocking extent of poverty and the implications for the next Scottish Parliament (summary briefing attached).

An invited audience of policy makers, campaigners, business, trade union and voluntary sector leaders heard the politicians respond to the stark findings and proposed solutions at an event hosted by The Open University in Scotland.  Leading authors of the report Poverty in Scotland 2016 also set out how key tools, including social security, fair work, education and local government, must be used over the next Scottish Parliament to transform Scotland toward a poverty free country.

 John Dickie, Director of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, who published Poverty in Scotland 2016 said;

 “Despite the challenging circumstances the authors of Poverty in Scotland 2016 are all absolutely clear that here in Scotland the next Scottish Parliament will have significant levers that can be used to transform Scotland toward a poverty free country.  Politicians across the political spectrum appear to agree but the challenge now is for them to set out how they will use all the Parliament's powers to create more progressive taxes, enhance social security, pay a living wage and provide decent jobs . If we are serious about ending poverty all those elected on May 5th must use those powers with a drive and ambition the likes of which we have never seen before.”

 Gerry Mooney, Senior Lecturer at The Open University in Scotland, and an editor and author of the new publication, said;

 “Despite the challenges at UK level it is clear that policies in Scotland do matter. The independence referendum and proposed devolution of new powers to the Scottish Parliament have opened up space for new ways of thinking about poverty and about the role of the welfare state in general. Poverty, and the social harm it causes can, and must, be prevented by action at every level. The challenge now is to shift the spotlight onto those processes that work to generate such widespread poverty at the same time as they enable others to accumulate such extreme wealth”

John McKendrick, another lead editor, author and Senior Lecturer  at Glasgow Caledonian University; added;

 “Although evidence about the nature and scale of poverty in contemporary Scotland paints a bleak portrait, there is much that we can do as citizens, and everyday decision-makers in businesses, Third Sector and community organisations, and in local and Scottish Government to use the resources at our disposal to create a fairer Scotland in which the potential of our most disadvantaged is not limited by poverty.  We had set ourselves the challenge of eradicating child poverty by 2020, but with an estimated 210,000 children in Scotland living with poverty in 2016, we now need to ask ourselves‘are we prepared to fail more than one-fifth of Scotland’s children, or are we going to do better and do more to rid Scotland of this shame? ”

 Gill Scott, Professor Emeritus at Glasgow Caledonian University, and another Poverty in Scotland 2014 editor said;  

 “In discussing how social investment in services such as childcare and education  as well policies to address a  housing crisis,  this book highlights how  poverty reduction is not just about fiscal policy and welfare cuts but about innovation and socially just routes to a more equal and sustainable future in Scotland.”

 Fiona McHardy (Research and Information Manager) at the Poverty Alliance added;

 “Poverty in Scotland is a complex issue, with no single easy solution. But we know that for every problem, there is an answer. This new edition of Poverty in Scotland helps provide some of the answers to the problems that affect our society. Whether it is the growth in the use of emergency food aid, or the problems associated with low pay, we believe that the next Scottish Government can do more to address these problems. We also know that the problems of poverty in Scotland will not be solved by politicians alone – the third sector, the private sector and the media all have a part to play in helping deliver real change. We hope the analysis provided here will help to bring real change over the next five years.”

You can download the report here.