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Action to combat poverty
26/11/2008
A new framework aimed at tackling poverty and income inequality in Scotland has been launched.
Supported by funding of £7.5 million, Achieving Our Potential sets out the joint approach of the Scottish Government and COSLA in the fight against poverty.
The framework outlines the key actions required by Government and its partners such as the strengthening of income maximisation work, launching a campaign to raise awareness of statutory workers' rights and supporting people who find it hardest to get into jobs or use public services.
It also calls for the UK government to transfer responsibility for personal taxation and benefits to Scotland, simplify the tax credits scheme and promote the greater availability of childcare vouchers.
Achieving Our Potential is one of three key elements of the Scottish Government's approach to alleviating disadvantage, which also focuses on reducing health inequalities and providing children with the best start in life.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, said:
"This Government has a new level of ambition for Scotland and is determined to deliver real and lasting change. That is why I am delighted to be launching this joint Framework with COSLA.
"For too long Government has tinkered at the edges of poverty or focussed on treating its symptoms. We can and must do better.
"There is however, much work already underway. Through the Fairer Scotland Fund we are providing £435 million over three years to help our local partners achieve better outcomes for the most disadvantaged areas and individuals.
"Just last week I unveiled our new fuel poverty programme and today I have announced that we will invest up to £7.5 million on key commitments in the Framework.
"Our challenge has been increased by the global economic downturn. This government has taken early and decisive action, within our current powers, to develop a Scottish Economic Recovery Plan.
"While we are taking this immediate action in the face of this downturn, we will not lose sight of the steps required to achieve sustainable growth for all and I believe with a collective national effort we can finally begin to bring about the change that is needed."
COSLA's Councillor Harry McGuigan added:
"COSLA and the Scottish Government have worked in partnership to develop this framework. I'm pleased that it sets forth a new vision for tackling poverty in Scotland, one that looks at the need for a culture change towards early intervention and one that links our efforts on poverty to those on health inequalities and early years.
"The changes we are looking for won't happen over night, not least the need to change attitudes about poverty and those living in poverty, but I'm hopeful that this new approach will yield successes in the long term, for our children and our children's children.
"In this economic climate I'm also pleased that a commitment to a new package of measures to assist those living in Fuel Poverty is included in this framework. The effects of fuel poverty are known to be wide reaching, affecting health, social isolation for older people and educational attainment among children.
"I look forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government in the weeks and months to come on the strategy's implementation and any resourcing issues."
Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said:
"The Scottish Government and COSLA should be congratulated on the launch of this framework. We are pleased that this new approach has been informed by the views of people experiencing poverty, by voluntary organisations and by those delivering services in the public sector.
"These are the people who best understand the problems we face and it is vital that we build on the strong commitment that exists to tackling poverty in Scotland.
"This framework must help create a consensus on the need to tackle the shocking waste that poverty represents in Scotland; a consensus that should be shared by different communities, by the business community, and amongst all political parties. It is only by developing such a consensus that we can hope to protect the most vulnerable in our society."
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing launched the new framework at the Eradicating Child Poverty conference in Glasgow today. Prior to this Ms Sturgeon visited Scotcash, a successful independent social business aiming to reduce financial exclusion.
The key measure of poverty used by Scottish, UK and European governments considers relative income. Those with incomes below 60 per cent of the UK median are considered to be in relative poverty. By this definition 840,000 individuals in Scotland or 17 per cent of the population are poor, including 210,000 children.
Over the coming months an Equally Well implementation plan and an Early Years Framework will be introduced. Equally Well tackles health inequalities while the Early Years Framework addresses the root causes of disadvantage.