Dumbarton Constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie, has called on the Scottish Government to act now to protect Scotland’s poorest families. The call comes as Scottish Labour Leader, Richard Leonard, raised the failures of the SNP Government to address poverty and inequality following stark warning from their own Poverty and Inequality Commission.

The Scottish Government’s Poverty and Inequality Commission has urged the SNP to progress their income supplement quicker and move their approach on inclusive growth from beyond a concept to an approach that results in real change for people.

Child poverty in Scotland has continued to rise with more and more people using foodbanks to supplement the cost of daily living.

Figures from End Child Poverty show that 3,304 children living in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond are living in poverty after housing costs.

Jackie said:

“It is a national disgrace that thousands of children are living in poverty. More than 3000 children are living in poverty in my constituency alone, this equates to one in five children.

“It is clear that this SNP-led Scottish Government simply aren’t doing enough to tackle poverty and inequality. Their own Poverty and Inequality Commission are urging them to take the action necessary to change the lives of families across the country.

“The Scotland Act gave the Scottish Parliament powers to change how we address these problems through social security measures, it is now time for this government to use those powers to make a very real difference.”