THE Scottish Government has played down figures showing lower levels of child poverty in Scotland than the rest of the UK.
The latest official statistics, published yesterday, showed 15% of Scots children – 150,000 youngsters – were growing up in poverty, a fall of 20,000 compared with the previous year.
Across the UK the figure remained unchanged on 17%, or 2.3 million children in poverty.
But Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a stark warning that poverty levels in Scotland would soar as a result of UK Government welfare cuts.
She said it could only be tackled with "the big prizes of independence".
Labour's social justice spokesman, Drew Smith, accused her of using the figures "as a selling point for independence".
Yesterday's statistics, from the Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions, covered the financial year 2011/12 and gave details of "relative poverty" – those in households living on less than 60% of average disposable incomes before housing costs are taken into account.
In Scotland 14% of people (710,000 individuals) were in poverty, compared with 15% (780,000 people) the previous year. The drop was explained by a fall in incomes, which narrowed the gap between those on average earnings and the least well-off.
Ms Sturgeon, who is responsible for the Government's referendum strategy, said: "We know that the UK Government's welfare reforms are already having a significant impact on Scotland's children, with further damaging changes still to take effect."
Glasgow MSP Mr Smith said "I find it quite alarming that the SNP, who have done nothing to tackle the issue of child poverty, are now using the issue as a selling point for independence."
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