This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Progress report on social justice
13/09/2002
The Executive's priorities over the next three years are designed to ensure a more equitable spread of social justice across Scotland, a special conference was told today.
Social Justice Minister Margaret Curran underlined the Executive's commitment to "closing the opportunity gap" at the launch of the new Scottish Centre for Research on Social Justice at Aberdeen University.
She explained how money announced in the spending review is to be used to tackle poverty, inequality, unemployment and anti-social behaviour.
She said:
"No one wants to live in a Scotland where poverty and prejudice are allowed to prevail. No one wants to live in a Scotland where a family's potential is determined, not by their abilities, but by their postcode.
"From today I am sharpening the attack on poverty through practical programmes that will bring real change to people's lives. That means investment in the things that matter to people - in childcare, in jobs and in training. Investment in people's homes and neighbourhoods. It means improving the way public services are delivered and it means securing rights for all, so that talent of every Scot is nurtured."
She went on to outline spending plans for the next three years that will include:
- An additional £30 million in new approaches to neighbourhood management, which will include a network of neighbourhood wardens across Scotland - up to 50 schemes.
- An additional £20 million to be spent on helping people in deprived communities into work. The money will be spent to ensure that no-one in a deprived area is prevented from entering work because of an absence of child care.
- An additional £10 million on free central heating for the over 80s to reduce fuel poverty
Ms Curran was speaking during a one-day conference on the urban and rural dimensions to social justice at the King's College Conference Centre in Old Aberdeen.
The SCRSJ seeks to integrate research and develop new research capacity in the field of social justice. It was established in January 2002 and is based in the department of Urban Studies at Glasgow University and the Arkleton Centre for Rural Development Research at Aberdeen University.