Motion · S5M-20151 · 4 Dec 2019

Decrease in the Projected Life Expectancy of Children Born in the UK

Lodged by Keith Brown (Scottish National Party) Standard Motion 17 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament notes with concern the decrease in projected life expectancies of children in the UK by three years that has been reported by the Office for National Statistics; understands that life expectancy has stopped rising in the UK since 2018; believes that this can be attributed to what it sees as callous austerity measures by the UK Government, including cuts to the welfare state; agrees with the UN Special Rapporteur for Extreme Poverty and Human Rights that cuts to public services since 2010 have resulted in “tragic social consequences”; believes that the most vulnerable continue to feel its damaging impacts and that stalling life expectancy for children is a consequence of what it considers to be the Conservative Party's ideological commitment to austerity; recognises that rising life expectancy for children is a marker of a healthy society, and supports the Scottish Government initiatives, such as the Baby Box, the Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods, that aim to ensure that children across Scotland get a healthy start to life, regardless of their background.

Supporters (17)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.