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ACVOE-Bulletin22.4.16-1
ACVOE-Bulletin22.4.16-1
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Page 8<br />
NEWS<br />
Use new powers to invest £5 a week in every child, say child<br />
poverty campaigners<br />
• New Scottish Parliament faces massive increases in child poverty<br />
• £5 top up to child benefit would reduce child poverty by 14% - lifting 30 000 children out of poverty<br />
Launching its programme for the next Scottish Government the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) today calls on the new<br />
parliament to seize a golden opportunity to reduce child poverty by investing £5 a week in every child through child benefit .<br />
The new Scottish Parliament will be confronted with an imminent rise in child poverty, with a projected 50% increase by<br />
2020 largely driven by UK tax and benefit policies. Child benefit alone is set to lose 28% of its value by the end of the decade<br />
according to the Group.<br />
In the face of this looming crisis CPAG is calling on the next Scottish government to use new social security powers to<br />
invest an extra £5 a week in child benefit . The campaigners say this policy alone could reduce child poverty in Scotland by<br />
a substantial 14%, lifting 30 000 children out of poverty.<br />
John Dickie, Director of CPAG in Scotland noted,<br />
“New powers coming to Scotland provide a golden opportunity for the new Scottish Government to invest directly in the<br />
next generation, reduce child poverty and set Scotland on a different trajectory from what independent forecasters tell us<br />
will happen to child poverty across the rest of the UK.<br />
£5 a week per child could help thousands of families avoid a visit to the food bank. It could make the difference between<br />
children missing out on school trips and joining in with their friends. Above all, £5 a week will reduce rates of child poverty<br />
in Scotland by up to 14%, improving the prospects of thousands of Scotland’s children.”<br />
CPAG’s programme for government also sets out a range of measures aimed at prioritising the eradication of child poverty<br />
in Scotland and minimising its damaging effects on children, families, services and the country’s economy.<br />
CPAG calls on the next government to:<br />
• Make a strong, public commitment to ending child poverty by introduction of a Child Poverty Act for Scotland. Such an<br />
act would provide a framework for the prevention, reduction and eradication of child poverty in Scotland.<br />
• Remove the financial barriers that prevent children from achieving their goals. The cost of school books, transport,<br />
uniform and lunches create a ‘learning levy’ which excludes children . As part of this, investment in school clothing grants<br />
and reducing the cost of school will be key to tackling the educational attainment gap.<br />
• Reduce demand for food banks in Scotland. Minimising errors and delays in devolved social security, and ensuring families<br />
can access the Scottish Welfare Fund and benefits advice, will reduce income crisis and protect families from food poverty.<br />
• Ensure work pays for in-work families experiencing child poverty. 56% of children living in poverty live in working<br />
families. This will require an increase the availability of high quality jobs and family friendly employment practices.<br />
Implement an ambitious childcare strategy for Scotland including clear timescales for delivery.<br />
CPAG in Scotland’s Programme for Scottish Government 2016-21 can be found here.<br />
NHS News (Grampian)<br />
The Spring / Summer Edition of the NHS News (Grampian) is now available to view online. You can access using the below<br />
link.<br />
www.nhsgrampian.org/NHSNews<br />
If you would like to submit an article for our Autumn/Winter edition later in the year, please contact the Public Involvement<br />
Team by email at nhsg.involve@nhs.net or by telephone 01224 558098.<br />
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