The Children in Families with Limited Resources Across Scotland report, published last month, reveals that for the period 2014-2016, 42.3 per cent of children in the region were living in material deprivation. This compares to a national average of 34.1 per cent, and ranks Dumfries and Galloway as the fourth worst region in Scotland for child material deprivation.
However, the report found that 18.5 per cent of children in Dumfries and Galloway live in families with limited resources, defined as a combination of material deprivation and low income, which places the region just below the national average of 20.4 per cent.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth says he hopes the statistics will be taken into consideration in today’s Scottish Government budget, and has urged the government to tackle poverty and end austerity. Mr Smyth said: “The upcoming Scottish budget is significant for Dumfries and Galloway. Years of cuts to council budgets by the government has taken its toll on funding for many of our local services.
“This new report shows the challenges we face locally.”
