Nicola Sturgeon has launched a new bid to eradicate the “fundamental wrong” of child poverty.
The first minister said a fresh bill would allow her government to “refine” its approach to tackling deprivation, which is “simply unacceptable”.
Around a fifth of children are thought to live in poverty in Scotland. Charities have welcomed Ms Sturgeon’s announcement, but opposition politicians said legislation has to be backed up with action.
The government’s poverty tsar, Naomi Eisenstadt, was also reappointed by the first minister yesterday.
Speaking on a visit to the Prince’s Trust charity, Ms Sturgeon said: “It is simply unacceptable that children are growing up in poverty and we must do all we can to tackle the inequality that still exists in 21st-century Scotland.
“While we have made progress as a government through the child poverty strategy, it’s clear from feedback from my independent poverty adviser, Naomi Eisenstadt, and others that we must keep striving to do more, and we need to do more to enshrine our distinctly Scottish approach in law.
“The consultation and bill will allow us to refine our approach and ensure it best meets the needs of those who so desperately need it, and I am delighted to announce it on the same day as I announce Naomi’s reappointment.”
A report by Ms Eisenstadt published in January put forward a series of recommendations to lift people out of poverty.
The bill follows the UK Government’s decision last year to replace the Child Poverty Act, which established a duty for governments to eradicate the problem by 2020, with new legislation which will instead require ministers to report regularly on measures affecting a child’s life chances.
Ms Eisenstadt said: “This legislation will maximise the chances that all people living in Scotland lead productive and healthy lives.
“We need to stop the cycle of poverty and prevent the next generation of young people being born into poverty.”
Campaigners welcomed Ms Sturgeon’s announcement.
John Dickie, director of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said: “This is excellent news in the drive to eradicate child poverty given the UK Government’s abandonment of statutory child poverty commitments.”
North East MSP Mike Rumbles also welcomed the move, but suggested the law had to be “matched with new money”.
He added: “No right minded person wants to see a single child being forced to grow up in poverty. But legislation in and of itself will not be enough to change things.”
