Child poverty on the rise in Scotland

They underline the growing problem already highlighted in answers to recent Scottish parliamentary questions which indicated at least 65,000 more children will be living in poverty by 2020, equivalent to 26 every day.

The Campaign to End Child Poverty said the figures showed "unacceptably high levels of child poverty" and warned the threat was posed by changes to the benefits system.

The statistics were produced using tax credit and unemployment benefits data to give the percentage of children living in families with low incomes or with jobless parents.

"The huge disparities that exist across the country have become more entrenched and now risk becoming an enduring reality," said the campaign's John Dickie.

"In the face of this challenge it is vital that Scottish government and local authorities focus resources on delivering the Scottish Child Poverty strategy.

"They must build on the welcome investment they have made in the Scottish Welfare Fund and replacement of council tax benefit, and ensure low-income families are prioritised for support in every budget decision they make."

Labour MSP Drew Smith said that the Scottish Parliament can and should make a difference.

"We need to build wnew homes, get more people into college and into work, target help at those who need it most and support the living wage to lift people out of poverty."

He also criticised the SNP for not making poverty a priority. "Everything takes second place to the constitution," he claimed.

"All we hear is SNP ministers talking about a different world after 2014, telling us what they can't do now, not showing us what they will."