Scotland is “making progress” in tackling child poverty but there is still “more to do”, First Minister John Swinney has said.
Child poverty levels north of the border are now “lower than they were 30 years ago”, he said, adding they are decreasing at the same time as the problem is increasing in the rest of the UK.
Mr Swinney said: “There’s a whole amount of information that demonstrates quite clearly that we are making progress in the journey to eradicate child poverty.”
However, he acknowledged the number of youngsters in poverty is “not falling enough”, adding: “There is more that we have to do.”
The first minister believes “whole family support” is key to tackling the issue, and while he said there are “countless” examples of such work in Scotland, he added it is “not nearly systemic enough around our country”.
To address the issue, he announced Fairer Futures Partnerships (FFP) schemes will be expanded.
The eight existing FFPs, which bring together a range of services such as childcare, education, health and social care along with help with housing, are to be rolled out into five new areas – Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh, South Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian.
Mr Swinney said: “Through the Fairer Futures Partnerships, backed by £4m investment this year, we are working hand-in-hand with local authorities, communities, and the third sector to deliver real, lasting change.”
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The Scottish government is additionally making up to £1.12m of Adopt and Adapt funding available to local authorities not currently engaged in FFPs.
Mr Swinney made the commitments as he addressed around 500 representatives from the public and third sectors at an event in Glasgow on Wednesday.
He said: “This is essentially a national mission for Scotland. This is our central mission as a country, to ensure that together we are able to succeed in this journey of eradicating child poverty.”
