Nearly 14,000 children in Ayrshire are living in poverty, a new report has revealed.
The figures come from the End Child Poverty Coalition and have been met with dismay.
In North Ayrshire, 5,394 are living below the breadline, representing nearly 25 per cent, or a quarter, of all the children in the area.
East Ayrshire has 4,911 children are in poverty, representing almost a quarter of all children (24 per cent).
And in South Ayrshire, 3,505 kids are living belong the breadline, representing 20.6 per cent of all children.
The research covers the period to 2020/21 and provides estimates of child poverty after housing costs have been taken into account.
South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth said the report “dispels the myth” that there is “little poverty” in rural areas such as South Ayrshire.
He said: “These figures don’t lie. The fact that a fifth of children in South Ayrshire are living in poverty should shame us all. Behind the figures are thousands of South Ayrshire families struggling to make ends meet facing a cost of living crisis that is likely to increase the level of poverty in the coming months.”
He added: “One practical step the Scottish Government could take is to increase the Scottish Child Payment from £25 per week to £40 per week. That goes to the poorest families and would lift many children across our region from the harsh realities of poverty.”
Jamie Greene, West Scotland Conservative list MSP said the figures were “extremely worrying.”
He added: “Child poverty locally is the second highest in Scotland which clearly demonstrates this isn’t a Westminster versus Holyrood debate, this is a deep-rooted problem which the Scottish Government needs to address.
“The Scottish Government needs to boost education, create jobs, improve access to healthcare and properly support families. Concrete action is long overdue.”
SNP MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Elena Whitham, said the Scottish Government was doing all it can to tackle child poverty.
She said: “One child in poverty is one too many but the game changing Scottish Child Payment along with six other benefits not available anywhere else in the UK are helping families now and the impact it will have on households cannot be underestimated — increasing the Scottish Child Payment even further, to £25 per week per child when the benefit is extended to under 16s by the end of 2022, will make such a difference to families struggling to cope with the Tory cost of living crisis right now.”
Ed Pybus, of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said progress “is being made” but added: “We need every level of government to do its bit if we are to meet Scotland’s child poverty targets.”
The Scottish Government said “record investment” of almost £8.5 billion was committed to support low income households between 2018-22, with almost £3.3 billion benefitting children.
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “Over the last four years, we have strengthened the foundations of support for children and families and used our powers to support those most in need, particularly with the introduction of our new social security system.”
She added: “That is why we remain determined to continue with our national mission to tackle child poverty. Our second Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan for 2022-26, Best Start, Bright Futures, is ambitious and has a range of actions to support families both immediately and in the long term to deliver change.”
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