Martin Whitfield MSP is backing a charity’s campaign for more action to support families who are struggling with debts owed to the state.

It follows a drop-in session hosted by Aberlour Children’s Charity and Govan Law Centre at the Scottish Parliament which aimed to highlight the urgent need for transformational changes in the way public debt is collected in Scotland, particularly to alleviate the burden on low-income families and combat child poverty.

Aberlour, Scotland’s leading children’s charity, joined by Govan Law Centre, has called for immediate legislative reform. Their proposals include radical changes to the collection of public debts, such as council tax arrears, rent, and school meal debts, which are currently trapping many families in a cycle of poverty.

Research conducted by Aberlour reveals that 75% of the debt supported by their Tayside Hardship Fund is owed to public bodies. This alarming statistic underscores the need for a compassionate approach to debt recovery, one that prioritises the well-being of children and families over punitive measures.

Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“It’s clear that the current approach to public debt collection is failing the most vulnerable families in Scotland, particularly children. This is inhumane, unfair and compounds the impact of child poverty.

“I fully support the call for a unified and compassionate approach to debt management, as well as the other key recommendations put forward by Aberlour and the Govan Law Centre. The Scottish Government must act swiftly to reform these processes, ensuring that families are supported, not punished and that no child is pushed further into poverty due to public debt.”

The session in parliament highlighted several key recommendations, including:

• Permanent School Meal Debt Relief: Making the Scottish Government’s temporary school meal debt write-off permanent and advocating for its implementation across the UK.
• Unified Debt Repayment System: Creating a centralised, affordable repayment system for managing public sector debts to ensure fairness.
• Prohibition of Aggressive Debt Collection: Banning aggressive debt collection practices in favour of more supportive approaches.
• Debt Amnesty Programme: Introducing a debt amnesty programme focused on low-income families, particularly for public body debts.

Aberlour’s Chief Executive, SallyAnn Kelly OBE, emphasised the critical need for new legislation that reforms public debt recovery processes. She and Mike Dailly from the Govan Law Centre called on MSPs to take immediate action to help break the cycle of poverty and enable every child in Scotland to thrive.

Find out more about the joint campaign here.