In a special investigation, the Herald is examining child poverty in Scotland and one of the key drivers - public debt.

Many families already on low incomes are left struggling to pay off arrears in things like council tax, rent and school meals.

Aberlour, Scotland's biggest children's charity, has launched a campaign to tackle the crisis, with five key steps for both the UK and Scottish Governments.

Debt Amnesty Programme (UK and Scottish Governments)

Implement a comprehensive debt amnesty programme for low-income families, prioritising debts owed to public bodies such as council tax, housing arrears, and school meal debt. This programme should be targeted specifically at disadvantaged families facing financial hardship, providing relief from overwhelming debt burdens that hinder their ability to meet basic needs.

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Debt relief for essential services (Scottish Government)

Ensure that debts related to essential services, such as water and electricity bills, are treated differently from other types of debt. Implement policies that prioritise access to these services for low-income families, including debt relief, measures and flexible payment options.

Expansion of School Meal Debt relief (Scottish Government)

The Scottish Government’s one-year school meal debt write off is welcome but it will not prevent struggling families from accruing school meal debt in the future, the move must be made permanent and rolled out across the UK.  As an immediate measure Governments must increase eligibility for free school meals to support more families.

Prohibition of aggressive debt collection practices (Scottish Government)

Prohibit aggressive debt collection practices by public bodies that pushes people into poverty, including wage garnishment, asset seizure, and harassment. Instead, promote a rights-based, compassionate and supportive approach to debt management that prioritise the well-being of individuals and families

Development of a unified repayment for debt to public services (UK and Scottish Government)

Governments and public bodies to develop a unified affordable single repayment method to pay down multiple problematic debts across various public bodies.