THIS week UK Children's Commissioners issued a dire warning to the UK government on its approach to child poverty ("Children's commissioners in plea for Osborne to halt benefit cuts", The Herald, July 1).
In response to our report, the Government said it made 'no apology' for the efforts it was making.
With Iain Duncan Smith's announcement it appears that the UK Government thinks the best way to eradicate child poverty is to stop counting it.
Instead, action is needed where the UK Government and devolved governments make child poverty a key focus as a matter of urgency, provide sufficient resources to tackle it meaningfully and assess the impact of all new policies on low-income families.
When the UK Government says "no apology", to me it means no apology for more children being plunged into poverty, no apology for them dying younger, no apology for their educational attainment being badly affected, and no apology for their poor mental health.
It appears that the Government is targeting the poorest in society with a crass disregard for the best interests of children and young people.
Tam Baillie,
Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People,
Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh.
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