Growing up in the new Scotland: The impact of independence on the future of Scotland's children

Published On Mon 9 Jun 2014 by Roddy Isles

5 Million Questions public event June 10th

Although most public services pertinent to children’s lives such as health and education are already devolved to the Scottish Government, they are still likely to be transformed under a new Scotland.

Also, the welfare system, its benefits and cuts remain the responsibility of the UK Government and this directly impacts family and child poverty.  This remains a challenge and currently Scotland is predicted to see an increase of more than 50,000 children pushed into poverty by 2020 (according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies). 

However, child poverty is one issue that the Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon believes independence can tackle, recently stating in a speech to the End Child Poverty Coalition that a yes vote would allow the building of ‘a country where child poverty belongs in the past’.

The latest Five Million Questions event, taking place at the University of Dundee on Tuesday June 10th, will seek to explore what a ‘Yes’ vote would mean for the future of Scotland’s children, and just as importantly, from the perspective of Better Together, how a united Great Britain can more effectively deal with the current challenges if the referendum result is ‘No’. 

The event will discuss child poverty and other issues of important to those working in Children’s Services, parents and families, and young people themselves with opportunities for participation through questions to the panel.  

The panel includes:

  • Aileen Campbell MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Children and Young People
  • Kezia Dugdale MSP, Labour MSP who initiated the `Debtbusters’ campaign to force action by the Scottish Government on payday lenders 
  • Professor Kay Tisdall, Professor of Childhood Policy and Co-director of the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships at the University of Edinburgh
  • Dr John H McKendrick, Senior Lecturer in the Glasgow School for Business and Society at Glasgow Caledonian University. His research and professional interests straddle three areas: poverty, play and children's environments

The debate will be chaired by David Torrance.

The event takes place in the Dalhousie Building at the University of Dundee at 6pm on Tuesday June 10th. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk