This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Progress report on social justice
13/09/2002
The Executive's priorities over the next three years are
designed to ensure a more equitable spread of social
justice across Scotland, a special conference was told
today.
Social Justice Minister Margaret Curran underlined the
Executive's commitment to "closing the opportunity gap" at
the launch of the new Scottish Centre for Research on
Social Justice at Aberdeen University.
She explained how money announced in the spending review
is to be used to tackle poverty, inequality, unemployment
and anti-social behaviour.
She said:
"No one wants to live in a Scotland where poverty and
prejudice are allowed to prevail. No one wants to live in a
Scotland where a family's potential is determined, not by
their abilities, but by their postcode.
"From today I am sharpening the attack on poverty
through practical programmes that will bring real change to
people's lives. That means investment in the things that
matter to people - in childcare, in jobs and in training.
Investment in people's homes and neighbourhoods. It means
improving the way public services are delivered and it
means securing rights for all, so that talent of every Scot
is nurtured."
She went on to outline spending plans for the next three
years that will include:
- An additional £30 million in new approaches to
neighbourhood management, which will include a network
of neighbourhood wardens across Scotland - up to 50
schemes.
- An additional £20 million to be spent on helping
people in deprived communities into work. The money
will be spent to ensure that no-one in a deprived area
is prevented from entering work because of an absence
of child care.
- An additional £10 million on free central heating
for the over 80s to reduce fuel poverty
Ms Curran was speaking during a one-day conference on
the urban and rural dimensions to social justice at the
King's College Conference Centre in Old Aberdeen.
The SCRSJ seeks to integrate research and develop new
research capacity in the field of social justice. It was
established in January 2002 and is based in the department
of Urban Studies at Glasgow University and the Arkleton
Centre for Rural Development Research at Aberdeen
University.