Q and A: John Dickie

Published on Sunday 9 November 2008 21:40

THE head of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland on a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that found progress on child poverty in Scotland had stalled for three years.

Do you agree that no progress has been made in three years?

Yes. We had seen significant progress but that ground to a halt because of the lack of sustained investment.

Essentially it's due to lack of consistency in investment in the child benefit and tax credit safety net, which is there to ensure families, both in and out of work, are receiving the financial support they need.

What needs to be done to get progress back on track?

The biggest priority, in order to reach the 2010 target to halve child poverty, is to invest – it has been estimated 3 billion is needed in child benefit and child tax credits.

But we also need more action to tackle low pay, job insecurity, lack of childcare, and lack of flexibility from employers in terms of parental rights.

Too often work isn't the route out of poverty it should be and, given the current economic situation and increasing levels of unemployment, it's even more important to ensure the safety net is actually adequate for parents who aren't able to work or who lose their jobs.

Is the target of eliminating child poverty by 2020 a realistic one?

Yes, if we get the kind of political will and investment to back up the commitment the government has made.

What can Scotland do when tax benefit and minimum wage policy is reserved to Westminster?

There is a real role for the Scottish Government to ensure people have access to information on the financial support they are entitled to.

(There could be] more action to tackle the lack of affordable childcare, which often prevents parents moving into work or sustaining jobs, and also action is needed to support development of the kind of opportunities which provide decent quality jobs for parents so they are able to provide for their families.