In the past thirty years, the percentage of households in the UK who fall below society’s minimum standard of living has increased from 14 per cent to 33 per cent, despite the size of the economy doubling.
Throughout the UK, almost 18 million people cannot afford adequate housing conditions; 12 million people are too poor to engage in common social activities; one in three people cannot afford to heat their homes adequately in the winter and four million children and adults aren’t properly fed by today’s standards. The results of the research are being discussed at a major conference in London on the 19th and 20th of June.
Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said:
“It is extremely concerning that in 21st Century Scotland, 18 per cent of people are multiply deprived.
“While figures in Scotland, are slightly trailing the rest of the UK they are still much too high.
“Poverty is a political choice and one which we should not tolerate.
“The UK is one of the richest countries in the world, so why are four million children and adults not able to eat properly?
“We need a range of measures to tackle this crisis such as higher benefit levels and promotion of the Living Wage. But we also need to look at the longer term changes we need to effectively tackle the roots causes of these problems. That’s why the discussion that will take place at the PSE conference in London so important.
“Both the UK and Scottish Governments need to take action now to stop this crisis escalating”.
ENDS
More information on the PSE research can be found at
www.poverty.ac.uk/pse-research
For more information contact Carla McCormack, Policy and Parliamentary Officer on 07853860893 or email carla.mccormack@povertyalliance.org
