A NEW report has claimed that 18% of children in the Borders are living in poverty.
This compares to a UK average of 25.1%, according to the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).
The figures indicate that child poverty in the region – assessed when housing costs are removed from household income – is less than in the neighbouring local authority areas of Dumfries and Galloway (23%), Midlothian (21%) and East Lothian (19%).
Children’s charity Barnardo’s says that a family of two adults and two children need £317 a week after paying for housing to be above the poverty line.
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