'Collective effort to break cycle of poverty', says Scotland's social justice secretary

All parts of society have a role to play in the mission to end child poverty, according to Scotland’s social justice secretary.

Shona Robison indicated there is more to be done, as she said that tackling the issue is a “collective effort”.

On Thursday, Robison will make a statement at the Scottish Parliament updating MSPs on the action being taken to break the cycle of poverty for thousands of families in the country.

The Scottish Government has stated that almost £6bn has been invested over the last three years to help support low income households.

And they say that of that, around £2.18bn has “directly benefitted” children.

It comes ahead of publication of the Government’s ‘Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan’ for 2022-2026.

The plan seeks to build on the work of ‘Every Child, Every Chance’, which was published in 2018.

Speaking ahead of her statement this week, Robison insisted that the plan will be one for “all of Scotland”.

“In the face of UK government austerity, combined with the deeply damaging £20 cut to Universal Credit, our investment over the last four years to support low income families has had a significant impact,” she said.

“But there is still more we must do to deliver the transformational changes we all want to see.

“Our second Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan will be a plan for all of Scotland. All parts of society have a role to play in our national mission to end child poverty.

“This is a collective effort across society to deliver for our future generations and break the cycle of poverty once and for all.”

Robison pledged that the Government will do “everything” within its powers on the issue.

She continued: “Our budgets may be fixed, powers limited, and the scale of the challenge as we emerge from the pandemic has increased.

“However, we are determined to do everything within our powers to give the children of Scotland the opportunities they deserve to succeed.”