Almost 350,000 Scottish Children Affected By Tax Credit Cuts

New figures show impact of UK Government cuts to tax credits, which the SNP brands 'shameful'.

New figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) show that 197,200 families in Scotland with a total of 346,000 children have been hit by the changes to tax credits.
 
These figures come in the aftermath of an IFS report showing that the vast majority of children in poverty in the UK live in working households. 

The reforms, part of chancellor George Osborne's Budget, include a reduction in the income threshold for tax credits from April next year, while in larger families child tax credits will no longer be awarded for third and subsequent children.

SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said:
 
“George Osborne’s shameful cuts were always going to hammer those in our society who were already struggling to get by – and these figures show that it is children who are going to pay a particularly heavy price, with almost 350,000 set to lose out.
 
“For anyone who hasn’t grasped the scale of these cuts yet, these figures should help them understand just how many families in Scotland are being hit – and how many children are affected.
 
“The Tory government should be utterly ashamed that the number of children from working families living in poverty has grown under their watch – but as these cuts to taxcredits show, they are intent on intensifying their punitive cuts agenda as their slavish devotion to right-wing ideology trumps any commitment to supporting those in need.
 
“Working families and vulnerable people in Scotland can’t afford for decisions over the economy and social security to continue to be made by the likes of George Osborne.  
 
“It’s time for these powers to be transferred to Scotland  - allowing us to take real action to truly tackle poverty, support working families and give our children all the support they need – rather than continuing on the UK Government’s course, which will push even more children into poverty.
 
“With their appalling track record, it’s no wonder the Tories are trying to change legislation to abandon targets on child poverty.  It’s clear that the Tories know exactly how badly their cuts will affect children across the country – and the SNP will fight them every step of the way.”