7,645 CHILDREN IN MIDLOTHIAN AND EAST LOTHIAN SUPPORTED BY THE SNP’S SCOTTISH CHILD PAYMENT

‘GAME CHANGER’ ANTI-POVERTY TOOL VITAL IN TACKLING TORY COST OF LIVING CRISIS 
  
3,915 children in Midlothian and 3,730 children in East Lothian have benefited from the Scottish Child Payment since it was introduced, according to new figures released by the Scottish Government. 
  
Now available to all eligible children under 16, 7,645 children in Midlothian and East Lothian have received since the scheme’s inception in February 2021, totalling £5.5 million. The full roll-out has been described as a “watershed moment” in tackling poverty in Scotland. 
  
The Scottish Child Payment is unique to Scotland and is projected to lift around 50,000 children out of poverty in 2023/24. 
  
It has been hailed as a “game-changer” by anti-poverty charities and is backed up with £442 million of funding from the Scottish Government in the next financial year. 
  
Commenting, Colin Beattie MSP said: 
  
“I am delighted that these new figures show a significant uptake in families being supported by the Scottish Child Payment in Midlothian and East Lothian - with 7,645 children benefitting since its inception. 
  
“The Scottish Child Payment, which is now £25 a week - a 150% increase - is a momentous achievement of this SNP Government and is the most ambitious poverty reduction measure in the UK. 
  
“This flagship payment underlines the SNP Scottish Government’s unwavering commitment to tackling child poverty, particularly as the Tory cost of living crisis deepens. 
  
“While the Scottish Government continues to dig deep in its fight to end child poverty, its efforts are repeatedly curtailed by the UK Government’s reckless pursuit of ideologically-driven austerity. 
  
“Only independence gives Scotland the full powers to tackle poverty at source and uphold the values of respect, dignity and compassion for all.” ​