This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland on track to tackling poverty - Minister
27/03/2007
New statistics show that real progress has been made in tackling poverty since devolution, Communities Minister Rhona Brankin said today
Commenting on the Scottish Households Below Average Income 2005- 06 statistics, Ms Brankin said:
"The figures issued today show that although there has been little change in the overall number of people in poverty from last year we have made real progress tackling poverty since devolution.
"There are fewer children, adults and pensioners in absolute poverty than there were in 1998-1999 and our drive to tackle poverty is having the desired effect over the long term. We have already exceeded our target to reduce child poverty by a quarter by 2004-05, ahead of the UK, and there is no doubt we are on target to meet our promise to eradicate child poverty by 2020.
"These statistics also show that social justice must be a priority for the future. They illustrate the very real effects of poverty on families and the tough choices people on low incomes face. We know that our efforts mean fewer and fewer people are having to make these choices - but these figures should make us even more determined to get to full employment and to end child poverty in a generation.
"Our investment in projects like Sure Start Scotland and the Working for Families Fund are lifting people from poverty, but there will always be up and downs in the statistics from year to year. Over the long term we are meeting our promise to eradicate child poverty and we will continue to work in partnership with the UK Government to do so."