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Financial inclusion and financial capability are a matter for local authorities, who are best placed to assess local need for services and put in place appropriate provision. The Scottish Government provides national infrastructure and support which it would be inefficient to organise at a local level, for example training for debt advisors, the Healthier Wealthier Children project and the Financial Learning Online Scotland website for financial capability practitioners.

<>Child poverty reflects the complex interaction of many factors and it is not possible to identify the impacts of specific changes. The Equality Statement Scottish Spending Review 2011 and the Draft Budget 2012-13 available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/26110945/26 provides an overview of the impact of budget changes on those on low incomes.

Despite UK funding cuts, local government’s share of the 2011-12 Scottish Budget was preserved at 2010-11 levels following year on year increases in local government’s share of the overall Scottish Budget since 2007-08. For 2012-15 local government’s revenue funding will be maintained and their share will still be higher in 2014-15 than it was in 2007-08.

In addition, the Council Tax freeze, introduced by the Scottish Government in 2008-09, has helped ease financial pressure on all families in Scotland in tough times. As a proportion of net household income, households in lower deciles are estimated to have seen the greatest benefit.

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04986 on 26 January 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

<>The Scottish Government publishes figures annually on the levels of child poverty in Scotland. This information can be accessed at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/933/0116722.pdf.

The data is based on information from the Family Resources Survey and the latest available data refers to the year 2009-10.

<>The Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland sets out the our approach to tackling child poverty in Scotland. It is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/14094421/6.

<>Child poverty reflects the complex interaction of many factors and it is not possible to identify the impacts of specific changes. The Equality Statement Scottish Spending Review 2011 and the Draft Budget 2012-13 available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/26110945/26 provides an overview of the impact of budget changes on those on low incomes.

The National Statistics published on 7 December 2011 show:

The average P1 class size is down from 21.1 in 2010 to 20.5 in 2011 - a new record low.

The number of P1 pupils in classes of over 25 is down from 6,896 in 2010 to 638 in 2011 - a decrease of 90%.

<>The Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland sets out the our approach to tackling child poverty in Scotland. It is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/14094421/6.

<>The key measures relating to child poverty are contained within the Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland which is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/14094421/6. These measures are reported upon annually on the Scotland Performs website which is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms.

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04987 on 26 January 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

We have funded a number of income maximisation projects to help people claim all the financial support to which they are entitled. Income maximisation checks are also available through the Energy Assistance Package. We have taken the following key actions to reduce pressure on household incomes: freezing council tax and water bills, abolishing prescription charges, scrapping bridge tolls, continuing concessionary travel.