Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell has joined Ministers from across the UK and Ireland to discuss the key challenges and barriers to progress in tackling child poverty at the British-Irish Council.

Maxwell said that the Scottish Government has made clear its commitment to the UK child poverty targets, and that the meeting was a valuable opportunity for ministers to share knowledge and ideas.

He said: “Earlier this year we launched a Discussion Paper on Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland and announced the creation of the £435m Fairer Scotland Fund, designed to support projects to address poverty, inequality and deprivation.

“We are currently preparing an anti-poverty framework, and at the heart of that will be a delivery plan for the solidarity target which has been set out in our economic strategy.

“This target commits us to increasing the proportion of income earned by the bottom 30 per cent of Scotland's population by 2017. That is a radical commitment which puts tackling income inequality at the heart of this Government's agenda.

“This meeting is a good opportunity for us to learn more about what action has been effective for other Governments.”

The mandate of the British-Irish Council is to promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of relations between the peoples of these islands. It acts as a forum for exchanging information and for discussing, consulting and co-operating on matters of mutual interest within the Council's respective administrations. The members are the British and Irish Governments, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly, and the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Related news items:

• Aberdeen and Edinburgh to receive Commonwealth Games Legacy
• Abolition of transport disability body “will reduce voice of
• Adults with literacy difficulties given help to write books
• Alcohol strategy consultation shows mixed responses
• Alex Salmond wins First Minister vote