By James Rougvie

A QUARTER of a million Scottish children are living below the breadline, and a significant number—thought to be as many as one in three—are in Dundee, according to a survey of child poverty by Barnardo’s.

Excluding Glasgow and some hot spots in the west, both Dundee East and West have a much higher than average number of children in families who are eking out a living on unemployment benefit.

A spokesman for the charity said yesterday, however, that child poverty did not feature among the new SNP-led Scottish Executive’s priorities for its first 100 days in power, and it was in danger of missing the Westminster bus in tackling the problem.

One in four Scots children are living in poverty, Barnardo’s said, and it has called on First Minister Alex Salmond to give priority to helping families living on less than 60% of the average household income.

Barnardo’s Scotland warns that without an investment of £3.8 billion—a third of what Britons spent on booze and champagne last year—the Governments at Westminster and Holyrood would miss their aim of halving child poverty by 2010.

In Dundee East, the percentage of children living in families on out-of-work benefits is 27%, and 31% in Dundee West. That compares with parts of Glasgow which reach 48%, while the lowest in Tayside and Fife is North East Fife with 13%.

Elsewhere, Angus is 17%, Dunfermline and West Fife 18%, Glenrothes 28%, Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath 24%, and Perth and North Perthshire 15%. The UK average is 21%.

Barnardo’s director Martin Crewe said that although the previous Executive had taken steps to reduce child poverty, everyone should be ashamed that one in four children were still living in poverty in Scotland, when the UK was the fifth richest economy in the world.

Tam Baillie, Barnardo’s assistant director of policy, said a large number of children in Dundee would be classed as living in poverty, although it was a complex situation when it was not known what other benefits families might be receiving.

“The new Executive has not even mentioned child poverty, and we need a response and a target policy from them if they are to make an impact,” he said.

Barnardo’s has called on the Executive to give priority to the families living on 60% of average income, free school meals for children with parents on the maximum working tax credit, and an expansion of access to quality childcare.

Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee West, said the issue was at the top of the political agenda, adding, “To have nearly one in three children in Dundee West to be still living in poverty should shame those who have been in power for the past 10 years. I am confident that the new SNP government in Holyrood will be playing its part in alleviating child poverty but we need action across government lines, and Westminster won’t be allowed to shirk its responsibility to our children any longer.”

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison, who holds the Executive’s public health portfolio, said the figures showed why tackling child poverty had to be a priority.

“We welcome the Barnardo’s report as it highlights the extent of the work that needs to be done and we will be giving careful consideration to the recommendations when bringing forward our plan.”