This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7718641.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Jobless 'falling behind' society Jobless 'falling behind' society
(about 16 hours later)
Unemployed adults with no children have fallen "ever further behind" the rest of society, according to a report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Unemployed adults with no children have fallen "ever further behind" the rest of society, according to a report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
It said the real-terms value of benefits for jobless adults without children had not risen for 20 years.It said the real-terms value of benefits for jobless adults without children had not risen for 20 years.
Co-author Tom McInnes said most of Scotland had become better off. Co-author Tom MacInnes said most of Scotland had become better off.
But he added: "The real value of the social security safety net for the largest group of adults in poverty hasn't changed for two decades."But he added: "The real value of the social security safety net for the largest group of adults in poverty hasn't changed for two decades."
The research, carried out by the New Policy Institute, suggested the number of working age adults without children in low-income households had risen in recent years, to about 220,000.The research, carried out by the New Policy Institute, suggested the number of working age adults without children in low-income households had risen in recent years, to about 220,000.
Children will be cold and hungry this winter because families can't afford heating or a proper diet Irene GrahamSave the Children ScotlandChildren will be cold and hungry this winter because families can't afford heating or a proper diet Irene GrahamSave the Children Scotland
"As the rest of society has got better off, so this group has sunk ever further behind," the study said."As the rest of society has got better off, so this group has sunk ever further behind," the study said.
"At 220,000, this last group now far exceeds the number of pensioners in low-income households, a complete reversal of the situation 10 years ago.""At 220,000, this last group now far exceeds the number of pensioners in low-income households, a complete reversal of the situation 10 years ago."
Report co-author Tom McInnes said: "As unemployment rises, the effects of this are going to be felt much more widely." Report co-author Tom MacInnes said: "As unemployment rises, the effects of this are going to be felt much more widely."
The study also suggested that Scotland's child poverty rate was one of the lowest in the UK.The study also suggested that Scotland's child poverty rate was one of the lowest in the UK.
The proportion of children living in poverty has remained at 25% for the last three years, with about 250,000 in low-income families, according to the report.The proportion of children living in poverty has remained at 25% for the last three years, with about 250,000 in low-income families, according to the report.
Child poverty in Scotland has fallen by a fifth since the late 1990s - similar to the reduction in Wales and some parts of the north east and south west of England.Child poverty in Scotland has fallen by a fifth since the late 1990s - similar to the reduction in Wales and some parts of the north east and south west of England.
'Pockets of deprivation''Pockets of deprivation'
The report said: "The reason why Scotland's performance exceeds that of great Britain as a whole is that the fall in other English regions has been negligible.The report said: "The reason why Scotland's performance exceeds that of great Britain as a whole is that the fall in other English regions has been negligible.
"As a result, the Scottish child poverty rate is now among the lowest of any part of Great Britain.""As a result, the Scottish child poverty rate is now among the lowest of any part of Great Britain."
But Irene Graham, from Save the Children Scotland, said: "The financial crisis has made it more urgent than ever that governments north and south of the border must act to keep its promise on child poverty.But Irene Graham, from Save the Children Scotland, said: "The financial crisis has made it more urgent than ever that governments north and south of the border must act to keep its promise on child poverty.
"Children will be cold and hungry this winter because families can't afford heating or a proper diet."Children will be cold and hungry this winter because families can't afford heating or a proper diet.
"The UK Government found tens of billions to bail out the banking system - surely it can find a fraction of that to tackle this outrage.""The UK Government found tens of billions to bail out the banking system - surely it can find a fraction of that to tackle this outrage."
The report also said that the number of pensioners in Scotland on a low income had fallen by more than 100,000, with pensioner poverty rates going from 31% to 16% as a result.The report also said that the number of pensioners in Scotland on a low income had fallen by more than 100,000, with pensioner poverty rates going from 31% to 16% as a result.
But it added: "The extent to which workless adults are concentrated in particular 'pockets of deprivation' has not really changed over the last decade."But it added: "The extent to which workless adults are concentrated in particular 'pockets of deprivation' has not really changed over the last decade."