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One in 10 Scots lived in severe poverty in 2012-2013: official statistics

Xinhua, March 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Over half a million people in Scotland out of the total population of about 5.3 million lived on less than half the average income in 2012-2013, according to new data official published Monday.

A total of 510,000 people, 10 percent of the population, were living in severe poverty, including 230,000 people (4 percent of the population) living in extreme poverty. Some 820,000 people were living in relative poverty that year, added the Scottish government publication.

A household is defined as living in relative poverty with an income below 60 percent of the median income in Britain. Severe poverty is defined as living with an annual income lower than 11,500 pounds (16,990 U.S. dollars), or 50 percent of the median income. Extreme poverty is defined as lower than 9,200 pounds, 40 percent of the median income.

Out of the 510,000 people living in severe or extreme poverty, 330,000 were working age adults, 100,000 were children and 80,000 pensioners, it added.

Employment is no longer a guarantee against poverty. While being in employment significantly reduces the risk of poverty, 44 percent of working age adults in extreme poverty lived in households where at least one adult was in employment, as did 60 percent of children.

Half of children living in extreme poverty were in households where at least one adult was in full time employment.

Scottish Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil blamed the failed austerity agenda and welfare cuts that are slashing incomes for some of Scotland's poorest households for the increasing severe poverty figures with employment increasing and unemployment down.

The Scottish government opposed cutting in-work tax credits, the government and its agencies are paying the living wage, encouraging other employers to follow suit, said Neil.

"We have put tackling poverty and inequality at the heart of government, through policies like the council tax freeze, free prescriptions, expanding childcare provision, while we are mitigating the worst of the welfare cuts by replacing income lost through the bedroom tax or council tax benefits cuts. That action is making a real difference and we will continue to make the argument for a fairer welfare system," he noted. Endit