Letter: Child poverty

Given the rise in child poverty highlighted in official statistics (your report, 21 May) the renewed commitment to eradicating child poverty by the government is particularly welcome.

However, it is with deep concern that we read the Scottish Conservatives' education spokeswomen's suggestion that the rise in child poverty is the result of "poor parenting".

Parents go to extraordinary lengths to protect their children from the worst effects of poverty. If government in London and Edinburgh is serious about eradicating that poverty it must tackle its underlying causes: poverty pay, barriers to work such as lack of childcare, and the woeful inadequacy of our welfare safety net.

Any attempt to blame those who suffer the consequences of poverty, rather than tackle the actual causes of poverty, will inevitably lead to a return to the massive increases in child poverty last seen in the 1980s.

JIM BOYLE

Oxfam GB

JOHN DICKIE

Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland

THE REV IAN GALLOWAY

Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland

PETER KELLY

Poverty Alliance

SUE ROBERTSON

One Parent Families Scotland