Poor will have voices heard in the battle against poverty

from The Scotsman

By IAN SWANSON

PUBLIC meetings will be used to give people affected by poverty the chance to have a say in the Scottish Government's anti-poverty strategy.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon today launched a discussion document on tackling poverty and spreading prosperity throughout society. And she said the debate would go "to the heart of the kind of Scotland we want to build".

The document confirmed ambitious Government targets to increase the incomes of the poorest 30 per cent of Scots by 2017 and to narrow the gap between Scotland's best and worst performing regions by the same date. The discussion document will go out to key groups whose ideas will then help chart the way ahead.

But the Government said there would also be a series of public meetings involving those affected by poverty themselves to encourage people to give their views.

At least one of the meetings to be held over the next few months will be in Edinburgh, though dates and venues are to be arranged.

Ms Sturgeon said: "As I speak, almost one in every five Scots – 880,000 – is living in poverty. This is quite simply unacceptable – a tragedy which we will not tolerate and that is why making poverty history in Scotland will be central to everything we do.

"Our strategy recognises that economic growth is not only about growing the economy and releasing Scotland's entrepreneurial and creative talents. It is also about sharing our increased prosperity and ensuring that all in Scotland can flourish."

Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance welcomed the document.

He said: "Despite the progress that has been made in recent years in Scotland in tackling some aspects of poverty, particularly child poverty, there is much more that needs to be done and we hope that the consultation will help identify how all those with an interest in tackling poverty, from local community and voluntary organisations, to local government, health boards and enterprise companies, can play their role.

"We are particularly pleased the Scottish Government is showing real co
mmitment to finding ways to include the voices of those who are directly affected by poverty in this discussion process.

"We share the Scottish Government's desire to get to the root causes of poverty: unemployment, low pay, lack of services and discrimination. We are hopeful that this new discussion paper will stimulate the ideas and solutions that will ultimately deliver a real impact on poverty and disadvantage in Scotland."

And Councillor Harry McGuigan, spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on health and wellbeing, said councils would work with the government on the issue.

He said: "This discussion paper points to the need for a focus on prevention as well as mitigating the effects of poverty and what is needed to move people out of poverty."

The discussion will run from now until the summer and the framework will be in place before the end of 2008.