A CHARITY has set politicians a £920m challenge to meet Holyrood’s own targets to lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the decade.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has set out how the Scottish government’s ambition to bring child poverty rates under 10 per cent by 2030 could be achieved, as a staggering 240,000 children in Scotland live in poverty.

It suggests that more action to get parents into work, as well as new benefits targeted at families with babies and single-parents, could help deliver the target.

This would cost an additional £920 million in targeted child benefits in Scotland as well as other costs associated with increasing employment, the foundation said.

However, it predicted tax revenues would rise by £410m because of increased parental employment, while universal credit expenditure could fall by £500m as demand drops due to higher incomes through work.

JRF in Scotland’s Chris Birt said: “Whoever forms the next Scottish government has the chance to change what it means to grow up in Scotland.

“Actions of Westminster governments may help, or hinder, but Holyrood has the chance to prove that it’s up to the task of not just setting lofty ambitions, but straining every sinew to deliver on them.”

Welcoming the report, SNP social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We are absolutely committed to meeting the 2030 child poverty targets.

“However, our policies are having to work harder in the current economic context and as a result of decisions taken by the UK government, such as keeping the two-child limit on universal credit which are holding back Scotland’s progress.”