Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2026-2031 External Reference Group Minutes 26 June 2025

Attendees and apologies

•  Julie Humphreys, Director, Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice (Chair)
• Chris Birt, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Greg Colgan, Chief Executive Dundee City Council on behalf of SOLACE
• John Dickie, Child Poverty Action Group
• Peter Kelly, Poverty Alliance
• Sally Ann Kelly, Aberlour
• Francesca Malila, CEMVO Scotland
• Rachel McAdams, Public Health Scotland
• Anna Ritchie Allan, National Advisory Council on Women and Girls/Close the Gap
• Satwat Rehman, One Parent Families Scotland
• Katelin O’Neill, COSLA
• Claire Telfer, Save the Children
• Karen Wylie, Glasgow Disability Alliance
• Megan O’Hara-Knight, Glasgow Disability Alliance

Observers

• Stephen Sinclair, Poverty & Inequality Commission

Secretariat

Officials,Scottish Government

                                                                                                          

Apologies

No apologies

 

Items and actions

Item 1: Welcome, Introductions and review of actions from previous meeting

The Chair welcomed attendees to the third External Reference Group (ERG) meeting, noting the agenda and reviewed the completion of actions from the previous meeting. 

The Chair highlighted the published ERG page on gov.scot is available and all meeting minutes, as well as the Terms of Reference will be published here: https://www.gov.scot/groups/tackling-child-poverty-delivery-plan-2026-2031-external-reference-group/

Item 2: Progress Report

The Chair noted the publication of the the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan: progress report 2024-25 which captures progress in delivering actions under Best Start, Bright Futures across 2024-25. The report shows that of the 113 actions reported on in 2024-25, 68 are complete or delivering at scale – an increase of eight from the same time last year.

The Annual Progress report was accompanied by a series of publications including a focus report on gender and child poverty, our annual update to the Child Poverty Measurement Framework, and analysis of Scottish child poverty data to better understand what has driven changes relative Child Poverty since 2017.

The Chair also highlighted the outputs of the international review of approaches to tackling Child Poverty. This research was focused on European countries that have poverty rates close to the targets set within the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017, or that have significantly reduced their child poverty rates in recent years. The outputs include four case studies focused on Croatia, Denmark, Finland, and Slovenia, and a summary report of key findings relevant to Scotland and the UK. Additionally, outputs also include economic modelling which seeks to better understand how economic and demographic factors influence child poverty rates in these countries.

Item 3: Engagement update

An update was provided on the engagement activity underway and completed. This included:

• Analysis from the written call for evidence and wider engagement activity
• Lived experience engagement update
• Scottish Government led engagement update
• External led engagement update

The Chair reaffirmed the importance of pace and scale, noting the analysis undertaken through the engagement and consultation provides the necessary information to make informed decisions on what is going to make a difference and should be included in the next Delivery Plan.

In discussion, members noted

• The importance of considering the fiscal landscape when making decisions on policy interventions and utilising economic modelling to inform these decision such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) modelling work
• The recently published Medium Term Financial Strategy sets out the budget position and therefore the efficacy of spend as well as outcomes will crucial
• The consideration of additional themes, for example, rural dimensions or voice and participation, and specifically how they will be implemented in the delivery Plan if they do not feed directly into the four key strategic themes
• The importance of capturing experiential learning in the Plan
• Consideration needs to be given to the process and rationale for prioritising actions to be taken forward, including how the impact will be rated and what criteria is needed. A balance between pace and scale and prevention must be achieved

SG noted this process is iterative and the guidance of the Group is welcome alongside the reflection of lived experiences as the process progresses.

Item 4: Internal policy development – next steps

An update on internal policy development was providing, including:

• The Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) for Child Poverty agreed the next steps on the development of the final Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan
• Officials in SG will be commissioned to work together over the Summer to develop high-level ambitions and costed actions for inclusion in the Plan
• ERG members were asked to attend the challenge sessions subject to availability

In discussion, members noted:

• The approach to the internal challenge sessions was welcomed and ERG members noted their willingness to participate where appropriate
• Queries around the process, including how the sessions will be conducted and attendees
• The importance of ensuring that internal discussions focus on those interventions which will make the biggest impact and that an holistic approach will be vital across Government
• Welcome of specific questions on women and set out an expectation that all policy areas should ensure that this these elements are fully considered and this is a companion to Gender budgeting
• Noted a strong way to challenge thinking in these kinds of discussions is through the lens of the parent/child and the power of lived experiences and that storytelling should be a key consideration in shaping the sessions
• Importance of engaging COSLA and Local Government through the right mechanisms to ensure their input and ownership is central to these discussions

Item 5: Conclusions and Any Other Business

Members were thanked for their contributions to the meeting and actions would be taken forward accordingly.