CHILD poverty in Glasgow is expected to rise to 50,000 children in the next two years.

Glasgow City Council has said reducing child poverty will be a challenge, and rather than meeting ambitious targets it is expected to rise by more than 10,000.

A series of factors including welfare reforms and particularly benefit sanctions, Universal Credit, and in work poverty, where parents, often lone parents, are in part time low paid insecure work is leading to a worsening of the problem.

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Currently child poverty rates range from 14 per cent in Victoria Park compared to 31 per cent in neighbouring areas Scotstounhill/Garscadden, and 36 per cent in Drumchapel/Anniesland.

In a report to councillors, Allan Gow, the city treasurer, said: “The levels of child poverty in Glasgow are amongst the highest in Scotland and the scale of the challenge for the council and health board is significant.

“It is important to note that child poverty levels in Glasgow are expected to increase as a result of economic and welfare changes. The levels of child poverty continue to be a serious issue in the city, with distribution of child poverty across the city varying from ward to ward.”