Motion
Addressing Child Poverty Through Education
S6M-16330 · Motion For Debate · lodged by Gilruth, Jenny
Lodged on
03 Feb 2025Heard / answered on
05 Feb 2025Watch the chamber session on SPTV · lands on the meetings recorded on 05 Feb 2025
That the Parliament notes the critical contribution made by education in eradicating child poverty, which is a national mission and the single greatest priority for the Scottish Government; notes recent analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which highlights that Scotland will see a reduction in child poverty levels in the years ahead due to Scotland-specific policies, such as the Scottish Child Payment; further notes that the Scottish Government has committed to making further progress, and agrees that there is a collective responsibility for every local authority, and educational organisation and body in Scotland, to work together with the Scottish Government to address child poverty; commends Scotland’s teachers and schools for their work to close the poverty-related attainment gap, and recognises that progress has been made, and that this programme will require more funding certainty over the longer term; welcomes the further investment in tackling child poverty through education in the draft Scottish Budget for 2025-26, including within schools through the expansion of free school meals, the uprating of the school clothing grant, continued funding for the Scottish Attainment Challenge and investment in Bright Start Breakfasts, as well as the around £1 billion investment in funded early learning and childcare and the £3.5 million investment in new skills pathways for colleges, and agrees that all MSPs across the Parliament have a responsibility to promote the interests of children and young people and to work together to share ideas and innovation to address child poverty through education.
Backed by
Supported by 2 additional MSPs
SNP 2
Lodged by
Gilruth, Jenny
(Scottish National Party).
- Dey, Graeme (SNP)
- Don-Innes, Natalie (SNP)
Final vote on motion (no amendments carried)
05 Feb 2025
Carried
Show MSPs
For
73Against
48Abstain
0Not voted
8Amendments were lodged but none were carried; the motion was decided as originally lodged.
Computer-generated best guess
Possible final motion text as originally lodged
This is a computer’s best guess at applying carried amendments to the original motion text. It uses simple text rules for phrases such as “insert at end”, “after X insert Y”, and “leave out from X to end and insert Y”. Treat it as an aid, not the official motion text.
That the Parliament notes the critical contribution made by education in eradicating child poverty, which is a national mission and the single greatest priority for the Scottish Government; notes recent analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which highlights that Scotland will see a reduction in child poverty levels in the years ahead due to Scotland-specific policies, such as the Scottish Child Payment; further notes that the Scottish Government has committed to making further progress, and agrees that there is a collective responsibility for every local authority, and educational organisation and body in Scotland, to work together with the Scottish Government to address child poverty; commends Scotland’s teachers and schools for their work to close the poverty-related attainment gap, and recognises that progress has been made, and that this programme will require more funding certainty over the longer term; welcomes the further investment in tackling child poverty through education in the draft Scottish Budget for 2025-26, including within schools through the expansion of free school meals, the uprating of the school clothing grant, continued funding for the Scottish Attainment Challenge and investment in Bright Start Breakfasts, as well as the around £1 billion investment in funded early learning and childcare and the £3.5 million investment in new skills pathways for colleges, and agrees that all MSPs across the Parliament have a responsibility to promote the interests of children and young people and to work together to share ideas and innovation to address child poverty through education.
In the Official Report
Debated in chamber — 6 contributions reference this
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Chamber
· 05 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2025
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16330, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on addressing child poverty through education. 15:18
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The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2025
There are four questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S6M-16330.4, in the name of Miles Briggs, which seeks to amend motion S6M-16330, in the nam…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2025
We come to the vote on amendment S6M-16330.4, in the name of Miles Briggs, which seeks to amend motion S6M-16330, in the name of Jenny Gilruth. Members should cast their votes now. For Briggs, Mile…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2025
The next question is, that amendment S6M-16330.3, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, which seeks to amend motion S6M-16330, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on addressing child poverty through education,…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2025
The next question is, that motion S6M-16330, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on addressing child poverty through education, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2025
The result of the division on motion S6M-16330, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on addressing child poverty through education, is: For 73, Against 48, Abstentions 0. Motion agreed to, That the Parlia…
Amendments and how the chamber decided
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S6M-16330Selected itemCarried 73/4803 Feb 2025 · Motion For Debate · Gilruth, JennyThat the Parliament notes the critical contribution made by education in eradicating child poverty, which is a national mission and the single greatest priority for the Scottish Government; notes recent analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which highlights that Scotland will see a reduction in child poverty levels in the years ahead due to Sco...
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S6M-16330.1Linked amendment/item04 Feb 2025 · Amendment · Greer, RossAs an amendment to motion S6M-16330 in the name of Jenny Gilruth (Addressing Child Poverty Through Education), insert at end "; welcomes the recently published guidance on school uniforms, including key recommendations to limit costs, and calls for this guidance to be put on a statutory footing as soon as possible."
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S6M-16330.2Linked amendment/item04 Feb 2025 · Amendment · Rennie, WillieAs an amendment to motion S6M-16330 in the name of Jenny Gilruth (Addressing Child Poverty Through Education), leave out "and recognises that progress has been made" and insert "but accepts that despite the hard work of education staff little progress has been made to close the gap and it will not be closed by the deadline of 2026".
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S6M-16330.3Linked amendment/itemDefeated 19/10204 Feb 2025 · Amendment · Duncan-Glancy, PamAs an amendment to motion S6M-16330 in the name of Jenny Gilruth (Addressing Child Poverty Through Education), leave out from ", which is" to end and insert "; commends Scotland’s teachers and schools for their work; notes that the poverty-related attainment gap has not improved in P1 and is the widest it has ever been at Higher level; further notes...
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S6M-16330.4Linked amendment/itemDefeated 29/8804 Feb 2025 · Amendment · Briggs, MilesAs an amendment to motion S6M-16330 in the name of Jenny Gilruth (Addressing Child Poverty Through Education), leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert "acknowledges that more than a quarter of children in Scotland live in poverty; recognises that, while investment in tackling child poverty through education is important, it must be accompanied by a fo...