5 July 2017

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to meet a group of Modern Apprentices from Wheatley Group, whose lives have been turned around by the opportunity to develop their skills.

She was accompanied by Naomi Eisenstadt, the Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality, as she published her report on how the Scottish Government can support the transition from adolescence into adulthood.

First Minister said:

Naomi Eisenstadt has again provided robust advice to the Scottish Government on how we can tackle poverty and inequality in Scotland. When I appointed Naomi in June 2015, I was clear that I wanted her to challenge the government and scrutinise the work we were doing to alleviate poverty and inequality.

Naomi’s latest report ‘The Life Chances of Young People in Scotland’ provides useful challenge to the Scottish and UK Governments to do more to improve the life chances of young people from less advantaged backgrounds and to build a fairer future.”

The First Minister also confirmed the creation of a new independent Poverty and Inequality Commission. Douglas Hamilton has been appointed as Chair and Ms Eisenstadt and Kaliani Lyle as Deputy Chairs. The commission’s first task will be to provide independent advice to Ministers on the first child poverty Delivery Plan, due in April 2018.

She added:

The new Commission will build on Naomi’s excellent work, providing independent advice to Scottish Ministers, harnessing determined collective action on a cross-portfolio basis; and scrutinising how governmental budgets, policy and practice can have the strongest impacts on poverty and inequality.”

Big step forward as @ScotGovFM announces Poverty & #Inequality Commission. Thanks to our supporters for campaigning https://t.co/btBZT1YGI0 pic.twitter.com/F0m0ToWRnw

— Oxfam Scotland (@OxfamScotland) July 3, 2017

Watch the full video from the launch here