SCOTLAND'S CHILD POVERTY AND FAILURE OF BENEFIT SYSTEM.

SCOTLAND'S CHILD POVERTY AND FAILURE OF BENEFIT SYSTEM.

UK BENEFITS SYSTEM HINDERING CHILD POVERTY EFFORTS

An independent report for the Scottish Parliament's Local Government and Finance Committee on child poverty in Scotland has raised concerns over the current UK benefits system and the failure of work to ensure low income parents are better off.

The report showed children in Scotland are more likely to miss out on experiences of childhood because of poverty than those across the UK and that for many parents in poverty entering employment meant a loss of income.

Alongside tackling the problem of benefits to reduce income poverty it highlighted building council and social housing, free school meals and smaller class sizes - all SNP commitments - as key steps that could reduce the social rather than financial poverty.

SNP MSP Alasdair Allan and SNP Work and Pensions spokesman John Mason MP have voiced their concerns that Labour's proposed benefits reforms will make the situation worse.

The report shows that

· Children in poverty in Scotland were more likely to miss out on experiences of childhood than their counterparts across the UK (holiday, sports, playgroup, school trips etc).

· Single parents with young children are unlikely to be better off by returning to work.

· Forcing people into work will do little to tackle child poverty and may make the situation worse

· Reducing benefits to force people into work will not overcome poverty or improve conditions for children.

· The main issues with an impact on children in poverty are reserved to Westminster.

Deputy Convener of the Local Government committee Alasdair Allan MSP said;

“This report highlights the poverty trap created in Scotland by the UK benefits system.

“Whilst many parents whose children are living in poverty wish to train or to work they too often find they are penalised by the system for doing so.

“With people put off applying for work and college because they will lose benefit support and others put off the tax credit system because of the “irrationality” with which it operates there are real concerns here that must be addressed.

“Disturbingly the UK Government’s proposed changes to the system seem more likely to increase poverty amongst those with illnesses or one parent families than to tackle the real problems.

SNP Work and Pensions spokesman John Mason said;

“This study confirms that few of those on benefits want to be living on benefits.

“The measures the Scottish Government has introduced to reduce class sizes, to build new council and social housing, to increase nursery provision and to offer free school meals are all part of tackling the social side of child poverty in Scotland however there can be no escaping the real impact low incomes have on too many of our children.

“This study confirms that the UK Government’s proposals to cut benefits and force people back into work risk having a detrimental effect on children in poverty.

"At the same time if those returning to work are earning less than they would do on benefits we must ask if the minimum wage is meeting it's targets.

“This is a timely and serious report and one I sincerely hope the UK Labour Government will pay close attention too.”