Local MSP Fulton MacGregor has said that £10 million of funding from the SNP Scottish Government will help to tackle child poverty in Coatbridge and Chryston and across Scotland.
The funding announced by First Minister John Swinney on Thursday was originally earmarked to support the SNP Scottish Government mitigating the two-child limit before the UK Labour Government finally came round to scrapping it across the UK.
The money will help families and households across Scotland cover the cost of life’s essentials and to deal with emergencies, with the majority of the funding will be split between charities and government programmes that provide emergency financial support, including the Scottish Welfare Fund, Aberlour Children’s Charity, Children First and the Corra Foundation.
Commenting local SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said: “Under John Swinney’s leadership, the SNP Scottish Government has made eradicating child poverty it’s top priority.
“Thanks to policies introduced by the SNP in government including the Scottish Child Payment, baby box, free school meals and free bus travel for under-22s, Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty rates have fallen.
“There are however still too many children growing up in poverty in Scotland and that is unacceptable. That’s why this announcement is so welcome as it will support the children and families who need it most.
“Next week, the SNP Government will set out in more detail further measures to tackle child poverty here in Coatbridge & Chryston and across Scotland in the Scottish Budget.”
Fulton MacGregor 