Doubling of Scottish child payment will benefit Moray families say SNP MSP Richard Lochhead and Green MSP Ariane Burgess
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THE doubling of the new Scottish Child Payment has been welcomed by two MSPs covering the Moray area.
Moray's SNP MSP Richard Lochhead and Highlands and Islands Green MSP Ariane Burgess, from Findhorn, welcomed the payment being doubled from £10 to £20 a week per child.
The Scottish Child Payment was introduced by the Scottish Government in February to support low income families with children aged under six.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced this week that, from April 2022, the payment will be doubled. It will be extended to families with children under the age of 16 by the end of next year.
Around 1880 families in Moray will be eligible for the payment – with £445,440 having already been issued to families in the area since the payment's launch.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said the payment – unique to Scotland – will make a "real difference".
He said: "I am delighted this payment will give £20 per child per week to over 1800 children in Moray – four times the amount originally demanded by campaigners.
“The Scottish Government’s national mission to tackle child poverty is absolute, with over £445,000 having been provided to families across Moray since February, and almost £32 million across Scotland as a whole.
“The doubling of the Scottish Child Payment to £20 is the type of bold action that makes a real difference to people’s lives and shows how focussed the Scottish Government is on tackling child poverty."
Mr Lochhead added that the payment doubling showed the difference between the Scottish and UK governments.
“Once again, the tale of two governments is striking," he said. "While the SNP are doubling the Scottish Child Payment to lift thousands of children out of poverty, the Tories at Westminster have just cut £20 per week from many of the same families – knowingly pushing families in Moray into poverty.”
Ariane Burgess, Highlands and Islands Green MSP, whose area includes Moray, believes the increase in payment will be pivotal.
She said: “With rising inflation, energy costs soaring, a Tory national insurance rise, and the recent cuts to Universal Credit, action to tackle child poverty has never been needed more.
"I’m therefore delighted that we will see the Scottish Child Payment doubled in the forthcoming Scottish budget.
“The Scottish Greens are continuing to deliver on key commitments made in the cooperation agreement with the Scottish Government that make a real difference to families in Moray.
"That is why we are introducing free bus travel for young people, extending free school meals, and have ensured government contracts pay the real living wage. We will continue to work towards a fairer, greener Scotland.”
