SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor has highlighted that Social Security Scotland’s Scottish Child Payment is supporting 24,655 children and young people in North Lanarkshire.
Newly published figures show that 321,375 children across Scotland were actively benefiting from the Scottish Child Payment at the end of December.
The Scotland-only benefit has now given families crucial financial support to help with the cost of raising children totalling over £1.4 billion since being launched by the SNP Scottish Government five years ago
A recent report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that child poverty rates in Scotland are the lowest in the UK thanks to policies introduced by the SNP including the Scottish Child Payment.
The SNP is now going even further with provision in the Scottish Government budget for 2026/27 to increase the payment to £40 per week for children under one-year-old.
SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:
“Under John Swinney’s leadership, the SNP Scottish Government has made eradicating child poverty its top priority and thanks to SNP policies such as the Scottish Child Payment, Scotland has the lowest levels of child poverty in the UK.
“The Scottish Child Payment is making a real difference for families in Coatbridge & Chryston. With 24,655 children locally benefitting, this support is helping to put money directly into the pockets of families as the cost of essentials continues to soar under Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
“There is still much work to do, and that’s why we are increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week for children under one and rolling out free Breakfast clubs across the country.
“The failure of successive Westminster governments to take similar action make it clearer than ever that Scotland needs the fresh start of independence to create a wealthier and fairer country. It is only by voting for the SNP in May that this can be achieved”
Fulton MacGregor 