Scottish independence: 820,000 Scots 'living in poverty'

IveSeenTheLight

Scottish independence: 820,000 Scots 'living in poverty'

The number of people living in poverty in Scotland increased to 820,000 last year, Scottish government-published figures have said.

The 2012-13 figure, which accounts for 16% of the population, was 110,000 more than in the previous year.

The number of children in poverty rose by 30,000 to 180,000, said the figures.

Scottish ministers said the statistics underlined the need for independence, but the UK government said it was tacking action to tackle poverty.

The figures indicated:

16% of people (820,000) were living in relative poverty in 2012-13 - 110,000 more than the previous year and an increase from 14%.
19% of children (180,000) were living in relative poverty in 2012-13 - 30,000 more than the previous year an increase from 15%.
15% of working age adults (480,000) were living in relative poverty in 2012-13 - 70,000 more than in 2011-12.
15% of pensioners (150,000) were living in relative poverty in 2012-13, 10,000 more than the previous year and an increase from 14%.
Typical income in Scotland in 2012-13 was £23,000, equivalent to £440 per week.
Statisticians said the figures covered a period of time when there was little growth in the Scottish and UK economies, below-inflation increases in earnings and the introduction of UK welfare reforms.

Ahead of the 18 September independence referendum, Deputy Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said: "Scotland is one of the richest countries in the world and there is no reason for children to be living in poverty in our society.

"The fact is that the reduction in poverty seen in recent years is now being reversed. Westminster welfare reforms, such as the reduction in in-work tax credits, are reducing incomes for some of our poorest households.

"Today's figures demonstrate just how vital the full powers of independence now are, to enable us to create a different approach - one that supports our most vulnerable, encourages people into the workplace and provides a fair day's pay for a fair day's work."

The UK government said the new Universal Credit would make 300,000 Scots households better off by an average of £166 a month, while it had helped hard-pressed families with measures like a fuel duty freeze and cutting income tax for 25 million people.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman, said: "The UK government is committed to ending child poverty by tackling its root causes, including worklessness, low earnings and educational failure.

"Under this government there are 300,000 fewer children living in relative income poverty and 290,000 fewer children in workless households across the UK.

"As part of our long-term economic plan, we have seen the largest rise in employment for over 40 years and unemployment is falling. Relative child poverty in Scotland has fallen since the mid-1990s and is lower than 2009-10 levels."

CLAPTON

can the Scottish government increase income tax by a small amount and give some more money to the Scottish poor?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

The number of people living in poverty in Scotland increased to 820,000 last year

Imagine how much worse it would be under independence, when the oil revenue plummets and the economy tanks.

IveSeenTheLight

CLAPTON wrote: »

can the Scottish government increase income tax by a small amount and give some more money to the Scottish poor?

It could do, else it could under independence save money on other areas for distribution

IveSeenTheLight

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Imagine how much worse it would be under independence, when the oil revenue plummets and the economy tanks.

It doesn't have to be that way.
Full fiscal autonomy could mean we save billions elsewhere for better use.

What your saying is that the current system is failing but let's keep it that way.

I believe we should be looking to resolve many of these issues.

CLAPTON

IveSeenTheLight wrote: »

It could do, else it could under independence save money on other areas for distribution

under independence it could spend more on other areas of distribution

anyway the good thing is that the Scottish government has the powers to solve this specific problem: it probably won't use them, of course, but that's another matter.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

IveSeenTheLight wrote: »

I believe we should be looking to resolve many of these issues.

So do most other voters....

Hence why 'No Thanks' is leading the polls by a wide margin.

IveSeenTheLight

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

So do most other voters....

Hence why 'No Thanks' is leading the polls by a wide margin.

Nice to see you are a Daily Mail reader

Have you considered that these questions are asked with peoples mindsets considering a status quo in terms of what Scotland is providing?

Have these pollsters considered what would be the financial position in a different set of circumstances i.e. defence proportions are reallocated to other streams.

Another example would be that Scotland could streamline many public bodies, something that The LSE Professor Patrick Dunlevy applauded(Yes the Professor that the Better Together quoted and inaccurately used the facts)

Indeed in the following report , they have closed the conclusion by stating: -

The long-run viability of an independent Scottish state is generally high.

tberry6686

Poverty in Scotland. Do the people who make up these reports actually know what poverty is ? And no it doesn't mean not having a brand new car or PS4.

I doubt if there are 5000 people in Scotland living in true poverty.

Thrugelmir

Scottish ministers said the statistics underlined the need for independence,

Surely it's the Scottish Parliament that's failing it's people. Tenuous to link every thing that needs addressing as being resolved by independence.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

IveSeenTheLight wrote: »

The LSE Professor Patrick Dunlevy applauded(Yes the Professor that the Better Together quoted and inaccurately used the facts)

Try again....

Seems that Better Together were right about it after all.

Alex Salmond’s claims about the cost of creating an independent Scotland are in disarray after an academic he has repeatedly quoted said the final bill could reach £1.5 billion.

The First Minister has repeatedly refused to publish his own figures for the cost of setting up a separate Scotland, instead relying on a previous estimate of £200 million produced by Prof Dunleavy.

However, the academic has repeatedly made clear this would cover “immediate” costs only and did not include the creation in the first years of independence of new computer systems for collecting taxes and distributing benefits.

Prof Dunleavy confirmed yesterday that the total could reach £1.5 billion if such “transition” costs were also included. He produced the higher figure after being challenged over the £200 million estimate by another academic.