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"UK sweeping child poverty under carpet"

Scottish Justice Secretary Alex Neil

A high-ranking Scottish official has warned that London is "sweeping the issue of child poverty under the carpet."

 Scottish Justice Secretary Alex Neil says the impending cut to tax credits will be “devastating” to working families.

The statements come as new figures revealed more youngsters in Scotland are living in “material deprivation,” meaning they are unable to afford basic items.

The official slammed the Tory government’s policies for the rise accounting for 14 percent of Scottish children. According to a report by the Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland, the figure has risen to 140,000 this year. This followed a rise of 20,000 to 130,000 in 2013-14.

“Over recent years, while relative child poverty has been falling, child low income and material deprivation has been increasing,” the report said.

It also revealed that the number of children living in relative poverty, before housing costs, is down 19 percent on the previous year.

 “The UK government is gearing up for devastating cuts to tax credits which will hit thousands of low-income working families next year.

It is also planning changes to the definition of poverty to exclude working poor households. The Scottish government rejects this approach,” Neil said.

"British Prime Minister David Cameron is not going to admit the growing child poverty in the country and he is not concerned about it at all," told Press TV, London-based Human Rights Activists William Spring. 

He went on blaming the ruling officials for the problems across the country saying: "The officials in charge have no clear understanding of the public suffering particularly those of poor children."

 


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