Scots charity urges £100m boost for parents to cut baby poverty rates

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A major charity has urged the next Scottish Government to invest £100m to slash poverty rates for low income families with babies . ‌

Save the Children is calling for a game-changing rise in payments to help parents with their new borns . ‌

MSPs have set tough targets to reduce child poverty by 2030, but experts believe the Government will fail to hit the mark. ‌

In a new paper, the charity estimates that the poverty rate for families with a baby stands at 35%, well above the national average of 23%.

They have now produced a plan to reduce baby poverty and are demanding Holyrood’s political parties step up.

Save the Children say the current Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment should rise to £4,885 annually for the first child. ‌

This would be paid in f