Civil servants have raised concerns to SNP Ministers about their claims of having “lifted” 100,000 children out of poverty. This warning followed scrutiny from a UK statistics body regarding the government’s language on the matter. The assertion of uplifting 100,000 children was initially made by Humza Yousaf’s administration. Former First Minister stated in May that anti-poverty measures were estimated to elevate 100,000 children out of poverty, contrasting with the actions of the Conservatives. Similar statements were made by other SNP officials such as John Swinney and Social Justice Cabinet Secretary Shirley Anne-Somerville in subsequent months.
Despite these claims, the assertion was widely disputed as child poverty rates in relative terms have shown little change since the SNP came into power in 2007. The UK Statistics Authority intervened, leading to Ministers refraining from using the “lifting” narrative. Documents released under freedom of information laws revealed that civil servants advised Ministers to be cautious with their language, suggesting to describe the outcome as “keeping” rather than “lifting” children out of poverty. The focus of policies has shifted to preventing more children from falling into poverty rather than solely on removing them out of it.
Labour MSP Paul O’Kane criticized the SNP government for failing to accurately address poverty levels in Scotland despite their claims. He highlighted Labour’s commitment to addressing low pay and establishing a Child Poverty Taskforce. The Scottish Ministers now emphasise that their policies are designed to prevent children from entering poverty, with Swinney underscoring the impact of initiatives like the Scottish Child Payment.
In conclusion, the SNP Ministers have been advised against making unsubstantiated claims about reducing child poverty levels. The focus has shifted towards preventing children from experiencing poverty, acknowledging the need for accurate and transparent communication on such critical social issues.