Statistics on the effect of the 2 child cap in Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

Known statistics on the effect of the 2 child cap in Scotland.

Response

Some of the information you have requested is available from https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-and-child-tax-credit-claimants-statisticsrelated-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

The Scottish Government does not hold any additional information that would meet your request, because the policy to provide support for a maximum of 2 children is administered by the UK Government. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

The remainder of this response sets out the response to each of your questions, including how the above exemptions have been applied.

1) How many families in Scotland have more than 2 kids born after April 2017?

The statistics linked above show the total number of households in Scotland in receipt of Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit that reported a third or subsequent child on or after 6 April 2017, as of April, in each year from 2021 to 2024.

At the UK level, the statistics also show whether these households have three, four, or five or more children. However, this information is not available at the Scotland level and Scottish Government does not hold this or any other information pertaining to your question in relation to the policy to provide support for a maximum of 2 children.

2) How many of these families have twins and receive the full benefit for additional kids?

The statistics linked above show, of the households in Scotland in receipt of Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit that reported a third or subsequent child on or after 6 April 2017, how many received an exemption to the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children due to multiple births.

3) How many of these families qualify for the non consensual clause?

The statistics linked above show, of the households in Scotland in receipt of Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit that reported a third or subsequent child on or after 6 April 2017, how many received an exemption to the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children due non-consensual conception.

4) What number of children born between April 2017 and April 2024 in Scotland do not qualify for the £3455 payment?

The statistics linked above show the number of children in households in the UK not receiving a child element/amount for at least one child due to the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children, as of April 2024. However, this information is not available at the Scotland level and Scottish Government does not hold this information.

5) Does the Scottish Government have the devolved power to decide to pay each of these kids that money instead of spending on such things as over budget ships or electric buses?

The Scottish Government does not have the powers to change the two-child limit policy at source while Universal Credit and Child Tax Credits remain reserved to Westminster.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.