Number on child protection register in Scotland falls by 30% in last eight years to nearly 20% lower per head than in England, as public services are protected from the worst of ConLab austerity by 18 years of SNP government

By Professor John Robertson, OBA

From Child protection statistics 2024: local authority benchmarking tool, published today, we can see that there were 5 653 children on the child protection register in Scotland, in 2017 but only 4 069 by 2024, a 28.6% reduction.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/child-protection-statistics-2024-localauthority-benchmarking-tool/

All things being equal, you might expect the figure for England to be around 40 000 but was, in 2024 [latest data], 49 800 making the rate in Scotland 19.7% lower per head:

https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-in-need/2024

This is one of the ‘canary in the coalmine’ statistics for any society, like the abortion or stillbirth rates and shoplifting which, in Scotland, have been lower than in England or even falling for the last 10 years or so. In a society where increased numbers of children have to be taken in to care, where abortion rates and stillbirth rates climb, where women are increasingly shoplifting essentials, those children and women are telling you that society, England and Wales, is in deepening trouble.

More detail on these:

‘The Canary in the Coalmine’ – Abortions shocking 36% more common in England & Wales after 18 years of SNP rule
Abortion and shoplifting – signs of the pressure on the poor to survive which are moderated at least to some extent in Scotland
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2 thoughts on “Number on child protection register in Scotland falls by 30% in last eight years to nearly 20% lower per head than in England, as public services are protected from the worst of ConLab austerity by 18 years of SNP government”

  1. I was wondering what happens, when the English gov scrap the two child cap just before the Scottish election in 2026, will that extend to Scotland or will the ScotGov be expected to continue to fill the gap, within Eng/govs’ fiscal constraints…hmm.

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    1. My answer is, ‘No’, because such benefits are universal across the U.K.

      The Scottish Government could continue to pay an additional child benefit from its own resources as it does at present. So, the UK benefit would be a baseline.

      it was agreed about a year ago with the UK Government that some kind of Scottish DHSS/DWP would be set up. A significant amount of data and other mechanisms would have to devolved, too. I do not know how far this has progressed, but I think the agreement is an amicable one and I have not read any hostile comments in the media from Labour MPs and MSPs, but that could change as the 2026 elections get nearer.

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