Real reasons for poverty

Published on Sunday 16 March 2008 20:25

As members of End Child Poverty in Scotland we believe it is a dangerous mistake to suggest, as Bill Jamieson does (Opinion, 14 March), that welfare spending causes poverty, or that poverty is a result of unwillingness to work.

Half of children in poverty are in families where adults are working, and welfare spending reaches families in and out of work. Furthermore, countries with low levels of child poverty have higher levels of welfare.

The real causes of child poverty are poverty pay, lack of childcare and discrimination that prevents parents working their way out of poverty, alongside the inadequacy of a welfare system that fails those unable to work because of disability, ill health or child-caring responsibility.

That is why the Chancellor's announcement of an additional 950 million on child benefit and tax credits is such an important step. This money will reach families in and out of work, and, importantly, make moves into work easier. Crucially, it brings the 2010 target to halve child poverty within reach. Achieving that target will mean providing more financial support for families, not less.

TAM BAILLIE

Assistant Director, Barnardo's Scotland

MARION DAVIS

Policy, development and training manager, One Parent Families Scotland

JOHN DICKIE

Head of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland

DOUGLAS HAMILTON

Head of policy and research, Save the Children in Scotland

PETER KELLY

Director, Poverty Alliance