HOLYROOD should form a dedicated joint committee focused on tackling the child poverty “emergency,” a coalition of leading children’s charities and anti-poverty organisations has demanded.

The coalition — which includes the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), the Child Poverty Action Group, Aberlour and One Parent Families Scotland, as well as the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland — has warned that statutory targets to cut child poverty could be missed without greater parliamentary attention.

The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 set down a target to cut the rate of child poverty to 10 per cent or under by 2030.

Despite some progress being made, however, with four years to go, the rate now stands at 21 per cent, and according to the JRF the Scottish government plan, required under the Act, is so lacking in boldness it could be open to judicial review.

Writing to the conveners of the education, equalities and social justice committees, the coalition has called on MSPs to make tackling the problem Holyrood’s top priority in this term by forming a joint committee to oversee action.

Aberlour chief executive Justina Murray said: “Having legally binding child poverty targets means little if we are not taking bold enough action to get there, and if our Parliament is not holding the Scottish government to account on its efforts (or lack of) to meet those targets.

“Creating a dedicated cross-party committee would send a powerful signal to Scotland’s children that our Parliament is fully committed to ensuring every possible action is being taken to end child poverty for good.

“The First Minister has repeatedly stated that it is his government’s number one priority to eradicate child poverty. It is the Parliament’s role to hold him to his word on behalf of Scotland’s children.”

Insisting the problem needs more than “good intentions” from Holyrood, One Parent Families Scotland chief executive Satwat Rehman warned: “Every month that passes without a credible plan to meet our statutory targets is another month in which children in these families bear the cost.”

The Scottish government said that “the question of committees is for the Scottish Parliament to consider,” adding: “The Scottish government has been clear its defining mission is eradicating child poverty.

“Our policies are estimated to keep 100,000 children out of relative poverty this year, but we know there is always more to do.”