Social affairs, incl social care  All Scotland January 11 2011 10:54

Scottish Government Paper has 'No Idea' About Child Poverty, Claims Church Minister

A discussion paper by the Scottish Government on eliminating child poverty by 2020 has failed to come up with ideas to tackle the problem, a senior Church of Scotland Minister has claimed.

Writing in his Blog, Reverend Ian Galloway, Convenor of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, said that although the discussion paper issued as part of UK wide consultation process is a useful overview of the Scottish Government's initiatives since the Child Poverty Act was passed last March, it was disappointing that the paper does not include strategic priorities or actions with long and short-term targets.

The Child Poverty Act was passed with the aim of eliminating childhood poverty in the United Kingdom.  The Church of Scotland in partnership with other Scottish faith groups and organisations presented a response to the paper from the Scottish Government.

Mr Galloway said:  "If the Scottish Government is to genuinely strive to meet the 2020 child poverty targets then it is essential that the strategy now being developed is ambitious and creative.  That doesn't seem to be the case.  We would be pleased to discuss how the work of the Church of Scotland is reflecting on the way in which we, as a society understand and respond to poverty."

The Church of Scotland is committed to reforming the way statutory and voluntary organisations work in local communities and to help enable a greater sense of self-worth, confidence and entrepreneurship amongst long-term unemployed.

As a means of doing that the Church of Scotland has set up a Commission on the Purpose of Economic Activity to help the Church become more engaged in economic affairs.

Notes to News Desks:  

To speak to Rev Ian Galloway, Convenor of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, please call Nick Jury, Senior Media Relations Officer, Church of Scotland Communications Department on 0131 240 2268.

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