Tackling Child Poverty External Reference Group meeting minutes 24 February 2026

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

• Julie Humphreys, Director, Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice, Scottish Government (SG) (Chair)
• Alice Hall, Deputy Director, Tackling Child Poverty, SG
• Anna Ritchie Allan, National Advisory Council on Women and Girls/Close the Gap
• John Dickie, Child Poverty Action Group
• Lynne O’Brien, Aberlour
• Matthew Sweeney, COSLA
• Peter Kelly, Poverty Alliance
• Pui-Kei Wong, CEMVO
• Rachel McAdams, Public Health Scotland
• Satwat Rehman, One Parent Families Scotland
• Professor Stephen Sinclair, Poverty & Inequality Commission (observer status)

Secretariat

• Tackling Child Poverty officials

Apologies

• Chris Birt, JRF
• Claire Telfer, Save the Children
• Colin Lee, CEMVO
• Gregory Colgan, Chief Executive, Dundee City Council representing SOLACE
• Justina Murray, Aberlour Children’s Charity
• Pippa Milne, Chief Executiveand Bute representing SOLACE
• Tressa Burke, GDA

Items and actions

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

The Chair welcomed attendees to the sixth and final External Reference Group (ERG) meeting, providing an overview of the agenda. There were no actions from the previous meeting.

Minutes from the previous meeting were agreed.

The chair highlighted the published ERG page on gov.scot which has all meeting minutes, as well as the Terms of Reference: https://www.gov.scot/groups/tackling-child-poverty-delivery-plan-2026-2031-external-reference-group/

Agenda Item 2: SG update on the Third Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan development and next steps

The Chair updated on work to progress the development of the Third Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, which will be published before the end of March:

• Cabinet has agreed an approach to the Plan, which will build on commitments already made at the Budget, including plans to increase the Scottish Child Payment for a baby under one and deliver a universal breakfast club offer for primary school aged children
• the Plan will be a framework plan and focus on actions in Year One (2026-27). This will ensure there is flexibility for an incoming government to make new or different policy choices
• the Plan will focus on the three drivers of poverty reduction drawing on the evidence base, as well as wider action to support system change and prevention. It will set out a range of action under the key themes tested through the engagement and consultation exercise: increasing earned incomes, reducing the cost of living, maximising income from social security and supporting children and families to thrive
• the Plan will be underpinned by two enablers – Whole Family Support and data to enable more targeted and preventative action

Alongside the plan a range of other material will be published:

• children’s version
• easy read version
• various impact assessments
• an updated evaluation strategy and framework
• analysis of Consultation and Engagement report

 In discussion the group noted:

• how a framework plan will work in practice given the importance of flexibility for the incoming government
• consideration needs to be given on how to continue to involve those with lived experience in the implementation of the Plan given how many people contributed to the consultation and engagement underpinning the Plan
• discussion on funding underpinning the Plan and when these would be confirmed to delivery partners.   It was noted that the draft Scottish Budget had yet been agreed by the Scottish Parliament, and the Plan will confirm the allocation of associated Budgets

Agenda item 3: Supporting successful implementation of the next Delivery Plan

SG updated on current governance arrangements for Best Start, Bright Futures and noted opportunities with the publication of the plan to consider effective implementation and support for an incoming Government.

SG outlined early thinking in this space and noted that any approach around governance should:

• foster collaboration between government and partners
• strengthen links between national and local contributions to policy and service design and delivery
• ensure meaningful participation from those with lived experience and
• help us understand if we are meeting the needs of families

In discussion the group noted:

• the four areas highlighted are positive given the Plan needs to take a Whole System approach, with a governance structure that ensures collective ownership, rooted in lived experience
• the need to consider what forms part of the Governance arrangements and how work can be streamlined and aligned to the ambition to eradicate Child Poverty
• there needs to be a balance of action between the difference that people feel and see in their lives because of policies and longer-term plans and vision
• discussion on Local Child Poverty Action Reports and how guidance can be used to support areas draw out specific key areas/information such as on gender. The guidance for the reports will be updated in the new parliamentary session

Agenda Item 4. Evaluation strategy and measurement framework

SG updated on the evaluation approach for the new delivery plan and noted that, while the overarching evaluation approach and theory of change remain valid, is has been important to review learning from the first two Delivery Plans and strengthen analytical foundations. SG noted a number of key improvements that that have been made in the approach including:

• cross government analytical group: Established to enhance evidence on the impact of policies on families and ensure stronger cross government engagement
• review of the evaluation framework: Updating guidance to better assess system level change, health and wellbeing impacts, and value-for-money considerations
• greater focus on priority families: Addressing gaps in evidence around inequalities, including gender, and improving use of existing data
• continued exploration of how health and wellbeing outcomes contribute to poverty and exploitation of preventative potential of policies
• linked administrative data: Continued development of data linkage to improve insight into outcomes
• collaboration with UK Government: Exploring shared learning from UKG’s newly published child poverty strategy

In discussion the group noted:

• the importance of recognising the two-way relationship between poverty and health, with opportunities to strengthen data linkage between Social Security Scotland and health datasets
• a need for clearer intelligence on progress across the full ‘incomes chain’, not just headline outputs versus long-term poverty targets
• the importance of clarity of outcomes and ensuring long-term outcomes do not detract from focus on poverty drivers or 2030 targets
• the need to consider whether some outcomes measure service delivery rather than changes in children’s experiences
• the importance of capturing cultural, relational, and systemic changes—not just quantitative targets—and demonstrating how families’ lives are changing

SG invited further written feedback before publication of the updated measurement framework.

Agenda item 5: Conclusions with agreed actions and AOB  

The Chair thanked the Group for their ongoing support, engagement, and contributions in supporting the development of the third plan and noted SG will continue to engage with members within other fora as the plan is taken forward.