The Scottish Government has launched a national strategy to tackle child poverty. It sets out a range of cross-government pledges including:

Increasing the number of parents in employment – through initiatives such as Community Jobs Scotland and apprenticeships

Income maximisation: school clothing grants, freezing council tax, scrapping prescription charges and providing free heating help

Encouraging positive parenting skills

Better housing and communities – building new affordable housing in mixed income communities with more green spaces, recreational and sport facilities

Financial support for young people to remain in education through the Education Maintenance Allowance.

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland welcomed the strategy, but called for a more robust mechanism to hold local and national government to account for delivering on it.