Child Poverty in Dundee - Jobs my top priority


I'm really concerned about Child Poverty in Dundee. A report issued by Save the Children, called Severe Child Poverty in Scotland, highlights the issue and points out that Dundee has relatively high levels of child poverty. I've written to the Chief Executive of Dundee City Council asking that this report is considered by Dundee City Council and the Dundee Partnership.

One child in poverty in Dundee is one child too many. Everyone in Dundee needs to work together to ensure that no child is left behind. We need to do all that we can to alleviate poverty in Dundee. Cuts in public spending will have an effect on children's lives. I am concerned that VAT increases and rising inflation will have a greater impact on poor families than any on other families. The rising cost of living is difficult for everyone in Dundee but it has a particular impact on the poorest.

Most child poverty occurs in workless households, this is why jobs are my top priority. We need to do all that we can to attract new jobs to Dundee and we also need to work hard to retain jobs in Dundee. For some of these parents we need to ensure that they receive appropriate training opportunities to allow them to enter the workforce.

We need to ensure that affordable, reliable and flexible childcare is available which will help parents into employment. The Conservative-led government is making changes to the tax and benefit system it is important that this doesn't have an adverse impact on child poverty. The City Council should consider ways in which it can promote access to benefits through its Welfare Rights work.

We need to provide the poorest families with support which will allow them to cut down on costs. For example, it is important that fuel poverty is dealt with, and that the costs of gas and electricity are looked and that help is given to ensure that fuel is used efficiently.

We have a duty to get it right for every child and therefore we need to ensure that educational attainment is boosted for every child in Dundee. Poverty has a particular impact on education and we must do everything possible to alleviate its impact.

Poverty is unacceptable in this day and age, I am clear that employment is the best way out of poverty, that is my jobs are my top priority.