Tackling child poverty: Review of the type of targets in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act - expert advisory group

Overview

This group was established in August 2026 to support the Scottish Government's review of the type of targets in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017.

It:

• offers independent insight, challenge and evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the review's outputs
• will review and feedback on the approach and analysis undertaken, contributing specialist knowledge and insight

The group is expected to operate until April 2027.

Members

• Spencer Thompson, Fraser of Allander Institute
• Peter Matejic, Joseph Rowntree Foundation 
• Ashwin Kumar, Institute for Public Policy Research
• Tom Wernham, Institute for Fiscal Studies 
• Stephen Sinclair, Poverty and Inequality Commission 
• Helen Barnard, The Trussell Trust 
• Kitty Stewart, London School of Economics and Political Science 
• Mike Brewer, The Resolution Foundation 
• Peter Martin, Northern Ireland Executive 
• Launa Anderson, Welsh Government 
• Luke Staniland, Department for Work and Pensions 

Additional advisers

• Donald Hirsch, Loughborough University