Church backs call for minimum income guarantee to tackle poverty

Scotland's faith leaders have united around a call to deliver a Minimum Income Guarantee with the potential to draw a line under poverty once and for all.

Representatives of Christian, Muslim, and Sikh congregations say the measure is needed to allow everyone to live a ‘decent, dignified, and healthy' life by creating a fairer society.

It is hoped that it will help break generational cycles of financial and material poverty, addressing Scotland's rate of 23% of children living in absolute poverty and 12% of children in deprivation, going without household basics.

The joint statement was released to mark Challenge Poverty Week – the annual drive to highlight the injustice of poverty in wealthy Scotland, and highlight social action to help people build better lives.

It has been signed by Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and leaders including Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church and Rev Lindsey Sanderson, Moderator, National Synod of Scotland, The United Reformed Church

The signatories extend an invitation for ‘prayer, reflection or meditation' on the ‘broken structures and systems' structural that cause poverty.

Tackling exclusion

The statement says: "We offer our encouragement and hope for inspiration to action which can overcome the barriers to fairness, equal opportunity and compassion.

"This year we highlight in particular the growing interest in and support for a Minimum Income Guarantee, which seeks to reform work, social security and the provision of essential services like childcare to guarantee everyone would have sufficient income."

"We share a view that the values of community, solidarity, neighbourliness, hospitality and kindness should be the cornerstones of our society, and that everyone should have enough to be able to live life without the fear of not having enough or exclusion which poverty brings.

"The Minimum Income Guarantee is a big bold idea, but one that can be delivered.

"At its heart the desire to build a just and compassionate Scotland, where everyone has sufficient income and the opportunity to flourish. Something that we can all work towards."

Lowering barriers

The Minimum Income Guarantee idea was first promoted by the IPPR think tank in Scotland.

Most people would reach the guaranteed level through paid work, with government supporting employers to pay real living wages, and provide flexible living hours.

Government would also create a solid foundation of public services to reduce people's living costs and lower their barriers to employment – such as extended universal childcare, affordable transport, affordable housing, or a social tariff on energy bills.

For people who can't work because of sickness, disability, or caring responsibilities – and those who do not reach the Minimum Income Guarantee level through their paid work - there would be a social security payment, tailored to meet their individual needs.

The Scottish Government's Expert Group is expected to publish its final report on the Minimum Income Guarantee later this year.

Challenge Poverty Week runs from 7-13 October.