GETFAIR SCOTLAND CAMPAIGN GROUP TO HELP REDUCE POVERTY.

GETFAIR SCOTLAND CAMPAIGN GROUP TO HELP REDUCE POVERTY.

GETFAIR SCOTLAND.

POVERTY ACTION MUST NOT SUFFER FROM RECESSION.

WELCOME FOR NEW ANTI-POVERTY CAMPAIGN BY GETFAIR SCOTLAND.

SNP MSP John Wilson, who has previously worked for Poverty Alliance and as a Director of the Scottish Low Pay Unit, has welcomed the launch of Getfair Scotland, a new campaign group aimed at raising awareness of poverty issues in Scotland and across the UK.

Welcoming the aims of the campaign which is lobbying MSPs today Central Scotland MSP John Wilson;

“It is my hope that the UK Government will work towards addressing the issues identified by Getfair Scotland to reverse the possible impact of the economic crisis, particularly for those on low incomes.

“It is a disgrace that we are in a situation where people in Scotland, particularly children, still live in poverty. Poverty in Scotland has increased during Labour’s time in office. It must not be allowed to get worse as we fight Labour’s recession.

“I have serious concerns over the impact of UK Government actions to push single parents into work by threatening to reduce benefit payments and measures put in place last year that reduce the time over which benefits can be reclaimed from 12 months to 3 months will have on addressing poverty in Scotland. For as long as the UK Government controls our welfare system we must make sure it works for the best interests of Scots not the bank balance of the Treasury.

“The SNP Government is taking action within its powers to tackle poverty with steps to increase affordable housing with 5,700 new starts over the last year and a £25 million fund to help those struggling with mortgage costs at this time.

“The SNP is tackling fuel poverty by extending the central heating programme to include not only pensioners but those young families on benefits who are particularly at risk and we will continue to pressure energy companies to bring down their prices.

“With increasing use of benefits checks and opening up access to support services with the National Debtline and a new debt forum established today to consider other ways in which we can support people in hardship the SNP is taking poverty seriously and continuing work toward ending poverty in Scotland and to preventing a worsening situation during Gordon Brown’s economic downturn.”