Pensioner poverty has risen in Scotland while deprivation among children has fallen, official figures today showed.

Overall levels of relative poverty remained at 17% of the population between 2006/07 and 2007/08, according to National Statistics publication.

But the proportion of pensioners in relative poverty in Scotland went up from 20% to 21% over this period.

The proportion of children in this position fell by the same margin over this period.

Housing Minister Alex Neil said today: "As a modern nation, poverty and inequality shames Scotland.

"That's why this Government is resolute in our determination to deliver a fairer and wealthier Scotland.

"Within our limited devolved powers, we are doing all we can to ensure more of our population are able to share in the benefits of a growing economy."

The Government is committed to increasing the proportion of income earned by the bottom 30% of the population by 2017.

The proportion of working age adults in relative poverty increased from 14 to 15% between 2006/07 and 2007/08.

The proportion of total income received by those in the bottom three income deciles fell from 14 to 13%.

Levels of poverty and income inequality remained fairly stable between 2004/05 and 2007/08, according to today's figures.

Relative poverty measures whether those in the lowest incomes are keeping up with the growth of the economy as a whole.

It covers individuals living in households whose equalised income is below 60% of median income in the same year.