Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Poverty Levels in Scotland

Tuesday 20 December 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Chancellor published an Impact on households document alongside the autumn statement 2022
  • The department engages closely with Scotland, noting a reduction of 55,000 in absolute poverty after housing costs since 2010
  • The JRF described the Scottish child payment as a 'watershed moment'

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Grant SNP
Economy Scotland Children & Families
Context

The question arises from concerns over the effectiveness of government policies in reducing poverty in Scotland, especially after a recent assessment by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation indicating severe financial hardships for many households.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the potential impact of his policies on levels of poverty in Scotland? The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that one in five Scottish households had to go without food or heat due to financial constraints, and described the Scottish child payment as a 'watershed moment'.

Answer from James Cartlidge

The Chancellor published an Impact on households document alongside the autumn statement 2022, showing that tax, welfare changes and energy support benefit low-income UK households. The department engages closely with Scotland, noting a reduction of 55,000 in absolute poverty after housing costs since 2010.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about learning from the Scottish child payment was not directly addressed.

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Q2 Peter Grant SNP
Economy Children & Families
Context

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation reported severe financial hardships for one in five Scottish households, and noted the impact of the Scottish child payment on reducing child poverty.

Question

Does the Minister have plans to speak with the Scottish Government about how the Scottish child payment works, as it could offer insights into tackling poverty? The JRF described this payment as a 'watershed moment'.

Answer from James Cartlidge

We closely engage with the Scottish Government. Official statistics show 55,000 fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs since 2010. Our support includes energy bill assistance for all UK households this winter.

Not addressed: The specific question about learning from the Scottish child payment was not addressed; instead, the answer focused on overall statistics and general support measures.

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