Local SNP MSP Stuart McMillan has said that investment decisions taken by the SNP in the Scottish Budget for 2026/27 will help to further tackle child poverty in Inverclyde.
Under John Swinney’s leadership, the SNP has made eradicating child poverty its top priority and 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.
Further measures outlined in the Budget by Finance Secretary Shona Robison expand upon the best cost of living support in the UK, and provides targeted support to eradicating child poverty including:
- £61.5 million for our Tackling Child Poverty Fund.
- A breakfast club for every primary school by August 2027 – helping families with costs and wraparound care, and ensuring kids are ready to learn
- An increase in the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week for children under one.
- The publication of the SNP Scottish Government’s third Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan in March 2026, with measures in the budget to continue to drive forward our impact on child poverty.
- The Delivery Plan will also include further information on a new annual £50 million package of Whole Family Support to build on the investment and delivery.
- A dedicated fund of £20 million for Third Sector partners to deliver the support that people need in their communities to get into and stay in work.
- A projected £8 million of funding for colleges to deliver new or expanded initiatives to help adult learners get the skills and qualifications needed to secure new employment opportunities.
Commenting, Stuart said:
“Thanks to action taken by the SNP in government, Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty rates have fallen.
“New investment and measures announced in Scotland’s budget go even further to help drive down poverty in Inverclyde and deliver on the SNP’s number one priority of eradicating child poverty in Scotland.
“Whilst successive UK governments have abjectly failed to get a grip of a cost-of-living crisis with household bills and the cost of essentials soaring, the SNP is taking real action to provide support to families when they need it most.
“Whether it is free breakfast clubs around the country, the expansion of the Scottish Child Payment to £40 for babies under the age of one, or the support that we’re putting in place for housing, the SNP is supporting families in Inverclyde.
“That’s the difference that the SNP make, showing what happens when decisions for Scotland are made in Scotland. Just imagine how much more we could do with the fresh start of independence.”
