The Scottish Executive announced 10 new targets aimed at delivering better life chances for Scotland's vulnerable people and deprived communities. The targets included: increasing employment and tackling worklessness; tackling aspects of in-work poverty by providing employees with the opportunity to develop skills; reducing the proportion of young people aged 16-19 not in education, training or employment; reducing health inequalities; regenerating the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods; and ensuring that children and young people who needed it had an integrated package of appropriate health, care and education support.
Source: Press release 9 December 2004, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: SE press release
Date: 2004-Dec
A study examined indicators of poverty and social exclusion in Scotland. While the percentage of both children and pensioners in low-income households was falling, the percentage for working-age adults without dependent children was rising.
Source: Guy Palmer, Jane Carr and Peter Kenway, Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Scotland 2004, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings N104 | JRF press release
Date: 2004-Nov
A report recorded the testimony of different groups and individuals who were experiencing poverty in a part of north east Scotland - voicing their problems, hopes and needs.
Source: Voices from the Edge, Moray Against Poverty Network, c/o REAP (01542 888070)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Sep
A new book examined social welfare in Scotland since devolution. In particular, it focused on the politics of welfare during and after the devolution process; poverty and inequality; and the two single most important powers devolved to the Edinburgh Parliament, education and health. It looked at why social welfare issues were central to the devolution process in Scotland; and it explored the particular social and financial circumstances in which Scottish policy makers operated.
Source: John Stewart, Taking Stock: Scottish social welfare after devolution, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Aug
A report summarized the results for those households receiving central heating during the first year of a programme to tackle fuel poverty in Scotland. The results indicated that physical measures alone might be insufficient to eradicate fuel poverty. The improvements did not remove all households from fuel poverty. Those remaining in fuel poverty were characterised by low incomes. All remaining had a total household income of less than 9,000 per year; over half had an income of less than 5,000.
Source: Bill Sheldrick and David Hepburn, Impact of the Central Heating Programme on Tackling Fuel Poverty: Survey of households included in 2001-2002, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Aug
A report summarised the outcome of an event (held in 2003) which looked at the progress being made in tackling poverty and social exclusion in Scotland. The event used a range of participatory methods.
Source: What Makes a Good Life: First Scottish Poverty Watch Report, Poverty Alliance (0141 353 0440)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
A new edition of the Scottish 'index of multiple deprivation' was published. The index ranked small areas across the whole of Scotland by their levels of relative deprivation. There were particular concentrations of deprivation in the Glasgow area.
Source: Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004: Summary technical report, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Technical report | Data (Excel links) | SE press release (1) | SE press release (2)
Date: 2004-Jun
A survey of people involved in the field of fuel poverty found pessimism about achieving the target of eliminating fuel poverty in Scotland by 2016. The charity said that poverty was the main cause of premature death, in particular excess winter deaths, among the elderly in Scotland.
Source: Fuel Poverty Today, Energy Action Scotland (0141 226 3064) | Press release 22 January 2004, Energy Action Scotland
Links: Energy Action Scotland press release
Date: 2004-Jan
