Two-child benefit cap 'will be scrapped' in Scotland

The Scottish government has unveiled plans to scrap Westminster's controversial two-child benefit cap to lift thousands of "children out of poverty".

- Guardian staff

Scotland's finance secretary, Shona Robison, said her budget for the coming year "offers hope for Scotland's future", announcing that the two-child cap on benefits would be scrapped in Scotland as she pledged record spending for both the NHS and councils.

The Labour government has come under pressure repeatedly to abolish the much-criticised policy introduced seven years ago by the Conservative government.

Campaigners, charities and MPs across the political spectrum have said it is the UK's biggest single driver of child poverty.

Scotland's first minister, John Swinney, declared eradicating child poverty to be his government's top priority, with Robison predicting that action to mitigate the cap - which means families can claim some benefits only for their first two children - will lift 15,000 youngsters out of poverty.