Image source, Scottish Parliament

Green MSP Andy Wightman says this motion is not about the collaborative economy it is about the framework about short-term letting businesses.

Image source, Getty Images

MSPs unanimously agree to pass the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill, external.

The Parliament will now take decisions on business considered at today's meeting of the Parliament.

Image source, bbc

Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says:"Poverty is fundamentally wrong on every level."

Ms Constance says: "A government and a parliament and as a country we will have to pull together as never before."

She says: "We will have to work together in new ways."

The minister says: "The time for talk is now over, it's time for us to act."

Legislation setting targets for the eradication of child poverty in Scotland was tabled at Holyrood on 10 February 2017.

The Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill, external will set a series of statutory targets to reduce, and ultimately wipe out, what minsters call a "systemic problem".

Studies show more than 200,000 children in Scotland are growing up in poverty.

Image source, Getty Images

The legislation, external sets an initial target of cutting the number of children in relative poverty to less than 10% by 2030, and in absolute poverty to less than 5%. As of December 2016, the rates stood at 22% and 21% respectively.

The government said it would publish a three-year delivery plan by April 2018, which will be updated every five years alongside annual reports to measure progress.

Poverty has been shown to be the driver of inequalities from educational attainmentto the health of children.

Read more here.

Social Security Secretary Angela Constance tells the chamber "in approximately 10 minutes we will stand united, I hope, to pass the poverty bill".

She tells the Conservatives: "The UK government is not going to be let off the hook while 85% of welfare spend is still controlled by Westminster.

"This Bill is our collective statement of intent, not just to tackle, but to end child poverty."

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne says her party has supported this Bill's aspirations to tackle child poverty from the beginning.

Ms Ballantyne welcomes the cross party improvement of the Bill.

She says she is glad there is no "myopic" focus on income and she welcomes the wider scope including tackling educational attainment.

Ms Ballantyne says to meet the targets set out in the Bill a holistic approach must be followed and she fears the government may fall short of the mark.

Labour MSP Mark Griffin says: "Despite the challenges things can be different.

Mr Griffin says a £5 a week top up to child benefit could lift 30,000 children out of poverty.

Backing the Bill, on behalf of the Labour party he says: "We look forward to the government taking bold and radical decisions."

Image source, bbc

Social Security Committee convener Sandra White says Scotland will become the only part of the UK that has statutory targets to tackle child poverty.

Ms White says: "It is not just about targets, poverty comes in many other ways."

She commends the work of the MSPs on the Social Security Committee and the work of the cabinet secretary.

The SNP MSP says being able to bring forward a Child Poverty Bill is "absolutely fantastic".

She says Universal Credit is driving more and more people int poverty and she says people are dying.

Liberal Democrats MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton thanks the Scottish government for their "inclusive approach".

Image source, Barnado's Scotland

From the Barnardo's Scotland website, external

"Barnardo’s Scotland provides more than 130 community-based services throughout the country working with over 26,500 vulnerable children, young people and their families.

"Barnardo’s Scotland engages with external organisations to bring about positive change for children, young people and families within Scotland."

Green MSP Alison Johnstone thanks the work of One Parent Families Scotland.

She adds: "The latest statistics show just what a huge challenge there is.

"There has been a 4% rise in just one year, that is a rise of 40,000 children - more than a quarter of a million children in this country live in poverty.

"Projections show 300,000 could be affected by poverty, a third a result of tax and benefits changes.

"In the face of these cuts we need to significantly raise the incomes of our poorest families."

Ms Johnstone concludes: "We should be ashamed in this country many of our children live below the accepted standard."

Image source, One Parent Families Scotland

From the One Parent Families Scotland website, external:

"Established in 1944, One Parent Families Scotland is a national organisation which works with and on behalf of one parent families throughout Scotland.

"We are the only national organisation whose overall aim and purpose is to improve the lives of single parents and their families, enabling them to benefit from life’s opportunities, and fulfil their potential.

"We support one parent families at grass-roots level through a range of practical services; we provide training and advice to agencies and professionals; we campaign vociferously at national level in the interests of our client group."

Image source, Children 1st

From the Children 1st website, external:

"Children 1st is Scotland’s National Children’s Charity. Some children have little to smile about. We’re determined to give them reasons to.

"We help Scotland’s families to put children first, with practical advice and with support in difficult times. And when the worst happens, we support survivors of abuse, neglect, and other traumatic events in childhood, to recover.

"We began in 1884 and for many years were known as the RSSPCC (Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children).

"We became Children 1st in 1995. We did this to say that children are at the heart of everything we do. And that not only do we want to prevent harm - we also want to ensure every child gets the love and nurture they deserve.

"We help Scotland’s families to put children first, with practical advice and with support in difficult times. And when the worst happens, we support survivors of abuse, neglect, and other traumatic events in childhood, to recover.

Image source, CPAG Scotland

From the CPAG in Scotland website, external:

"CPAG in Scotland was established in 1999 and works to raise awareness of the devastating impact poverty has on children in Scotland, maximise families’ incomes by helping to ensure those eligible for benefits and tax credits receive their full entitlements and campaign for positive policy changes to end that poverty.

"We do this through providing advice, external, information, external and training, external on benefits and tax credits to organisations in Scotland; as well promoting solutions and working to bring about real improvements in the policies that impact on the lives of low income families through our campaign and policy work, external."

Image source, The Poverty Alliance

From the Poverty Alliance website, external:

"Our vision is of a sustainable Scotland based on social and economic justice, with dignity for all, where poverty and inequalities are not tolerated and are challenged.

"The Poverty Alliance was formally established in 1992, growing out of an informal network of groups and individuals active since the mid 1980s.

"We are a membership organisation with a range of varied experience in addressing issues related to poverty and social exclusion.

"Our membership is made up of a wide range of organisations including grassroots community groups, individuals facing poverty, voluntary organisations, statutory organisations, policy makers and academics.

"We now act as the national anti-poverty network in Scotland, working with voluntary organisations, policy makers and politicians at Scottish, UK and European levels."