A new study has found that one million people living in Scotland cannot afford adequate housing. A further 800,000 are too poor to engage in common social activities, more than 250,000 – including children and adults – are not fed properly.

The findings are part of the Poverty and Social Exclusion (PSE) project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

The study of poverty is the largest ever undertaken in the UK, and compares people's actual living standards with the minimum standards which the public thinks everyone should have.

It found that while the size of the economy has doubled, the number of households falling below society's minimum standard of living has increased from 14% to 33% over the last three decades. There was less poverty recorded in Scotland than the rest of the UK however, with 18% of children and adults said to be poor at the end of 2012, compared with 22%.

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Researchers from universities throughout the UK were involved in the study. Other points related to Scotland revealed that:

• More than 400,000 adults go without essential clothing

• More than 200,000 children live in homes that are damp

• 30% of people cannot afford to heat their homes adequately in winter

• Around 350,000 children live in cold homes in winter; 50,000 children live in households that cannot afford to heat their home

• Almost one in four adults has an income below what they consider is needed to avoid poverty.

Commenting on the report, Professor Nick Bailey, from the University of Glasgow, said: "The UK Government continues to ignore the deep problems in the Scottish and UK labour markets; they do not have adequate policies to address this growing problem. UK and Scottish Governments both need to do more."

Professor Glen Bramley, from Herriot-Watt University, added: "It is worrying that in the 21st century more than 40% of households who want to use meals on wheels, evening classes, museums, youth clubs, citizens' advice or special transport cannot do so due to unavailability, unaffordability or inadequacy."

The report is due to be discussed later at a conference in Edinburgh which has been organised by the PSE and the Scottish Government.

(JP/IT)