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Child poverty cash welcomed by north-east MSPs


By Alan Beresford

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TWO north-east MSPs have welcomed a payment which will help tackle child poverty in the region.

Stewart Stevenson and Gillian Martin.
Stewart Stevenson and Gillian Martin.

More than 10,000 children across the north-east could benefit from the Scottish Child Payment which will be worth £10 per child for low-income families by the end of 2022.

The introduction of the payment for children under six will began as early as next year.

Both Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson and his Aberdeenshire East colleague Gillian Martin have welcomed the move.

Mr Stevenson said: “Tory cuts are driving many families in the north-east into poverty.

“This payment from the Scottish Government shows we are using every power at our disposal to help families make ends meet. We must do all we can to help support families.”

Ms Martin commented: “The Scottish Child Payment is an ambitious and ground-breaking new benefit which will directly tackle child poverty across the country.

“This support is needed more than ever, and when this additional £10 per week per child becomes available in February.

“It will help reduce financial pressures and demonstrates the potential of social security to make a positive difference and reflect our society’s shared values of compassion and fairness.”

On Tuesday, Septembe 8 the Scottish Fiscal Commission published their updated forecasts, accounting for the Covid impacts. These forecasts estimate that 194,000 children under six will be eligible for the Scottish Child Payment in 2020-21.

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