Swinney urged to do more to tackle child poverty
First Minister John Swinney has been warned his government’s flagship Scottish Child Payment is not enough to stop children having to resort to foodbanks - despite a leading charity seeing a small drop in the number of emergency parcels it handed out
The Trussell Trust said its foodbanksprovided262,479 food parcels to people in Scotlandbetweenapril2023 and March 2024 - with this down from 262,827 the previous year.
The latest total included 86,013 parcels for children, as well as 176,466 that were supplied to help adults put food on the table.
But the Trussell Trust noted 156,262 (60 per cent) of thepackagesithandedoutin Scotland in 2023-34 went to families with children - with this up from just 21 per cent five years ago.
The charity also reported a 22 per cent increase in the numberofparcelsforhouseholds with someone of pension age in them compared to 2022-23.
There were 52,700 people in Scotland who came to the Trusselltrustforhelpforthe first time last year - with the dataalsoshowing75percent of those seeking help from a food bank did so because of low income or debt problems.
With new First Minister John Swinney already having made plain his determinationtotacklechildpoverty, Trusselltrustbossessaidthe Scottish Government needs to increase the level of the Scottishchildpaymentfrom its current rate of £26.70 a week to "at least £40 a week".
It is also challenging Holyrood ministers to pay more cash into the Scottish Welfare Fund - which provides emergency grants to those in need - and to mitigate the two child cap on some benefits.
In addition the Scottish Government is being called on to reverse cuts to spending for affordable housing which were included as part of this year's Holyrood budget.