More than half of all children in D&G live in poverty

More than half of all children in D&G live in poverty

SNP MSP for the South of Scotland, Alasdair Morgan today (Tuesday) highlighted figures which show that on 2006/2007, the last year for which figures are available, 51% of children in Dumfries & Galloway lived in households which depended on benefits.

Mr Morgan said:

“These figures are a shocking indictment of the Labour Party’s statements on child poverty. In this region during the time they were in power in Holyrood and continue to govern at Westminster, the numbers of children living in households dependent on benefits for survival has increased.

“Now more than half the children in Dumfries & Galloway officially live in poverty. The UK government has a target of halving child poverty by 2010. I suggest to them that they will have their work cut out in this region. Whatever they’ve been doing so far clearly hasn’t been working.

“Tackling inequalities in our society is a massive challenge and, although we have limited levers to effect change, the Scottish Government is determined to address these issues with a range of policies.

“The Government is striving to improve the life chances of all our people and target the causes of poverty by providing greater access to jobs, improving early years provision, enhancing skills and educational achievement, and through the regeneration of our communities, better health and public services.

“However, the devolution settlement means we are fighting with one hand tied behind our back, restricting the Scottish Government's ability to take significant action to lift families out of poverty.”