THE latest poverty and income inequality figures are drawn from data collected by the Department for Work and Pensions.

The release of information for Scotland comes as equivalent numbers for the rest of the UK are also unveiled.

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The UK Government hailed the “fantastic news” that one million fewer people were in absolute poverty compared to 2010. However, children were five times more likely to live in poverty if they were in a workless household and the Children’s Society said the figures also showed an increase in the number of children living in relative poverty.

Kit Malthouse, minister for family support, housing and child maintenance, said: “Our welfare reforms offer parents tailored support to move into work, ensuring even more families can enjoy the opportunities and benefits that work can bring.”

However, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “If you work hard, you shouldn’t have to worry about making ends meet, but these figures show that despite rising employment, millions of people in working households are trapped in poverty.

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“Unless the Government reverses its planned cuts to Universal Credit, things will get much worse.”

Sam Royston, of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said: “The Government’s reforms are failing to reverse the rise in child poverty. We call on the Government to end the freeze on children’s benefits and lift the two-child limit on tax credits and Universal Credit. If these policies aren’t reversed, we are denying these children an equal opportunity to succeed.”