A fifth of the worst affected people lived in Glasgow

The findings, published in the book Poverty in Scotland 2007, showed the figure included 240,000 children.

Jack McConnell has pledged to put the issue at the heart of executive policy, promising to increase the number of children entitled to free school meals.

The SNP, SSP and Solidarity are already committed to the school meals issue.

The CPAG revealed 910,000 people in Scotland were living in poverty, including 23% of the child population.

KEY POVERTY INDICATORS A single person is in poverty if they are living on less than �100 per week A lone parent family with two children (aged 5 and 11) are living in poverty if they are living on less than �186 per week A couple with two children (again aged 5 and 11) are living in poverty if they are living on less than �268 a week Source: Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland Have your say on Mr McConnell's pledge

The study considered a single person to be living in poverty if they live on less than �100 a week and lone parents with two children to be poor if they have less than �268 a week.

John Dickie, head of CPAG in Scotland, said that the organisation had been campaigning to increase child benefit to Scotland's lowest income families, many of whom had to make tough choices if unexpected things like school trips, additional bus fares or leisure activities had to be paid for.

"It's a very efficient way of getting money to children and families," he said.

"It has 98% take-up so investing money in child benefit, particularly increasing the rate for second and subsequent children, would make a significant difference.

"Do we want our children to grow up in a society scarred by poverty, or are we willing to pay for the decent wages, benefits and services that would lift all Scotland's people out of poverty?"

Dr Gerry Mooney, from the Open University in Scotland, an editor and contributing author of the CPAG book, warned that there was a "marked unwillingness" on the part of government to tackle the causes of inequalities in Scottish society.

School meal pledge

The first minister admitted more must be done to reduce poverty at a faster rate.

Mr McConnell pledged to almost double the number of children entitled to free school meals and to create an anti-poverty unit.

"We need to go faster and further, the numbers of children in poverty have gone from one in three to one in four," he said.

The first minister's school meal proposal was launched at a conference in Glasgow.

A fifth of the worst affected people lived in the city.

READ THE SPEECH Jack McConnell's speech to CPAG [52KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here

Currently, only children in very low income families and those whose parents are out of work are entitled to a free school meal - about 122,000 children in total.

Under the proposals free school meals would be extended to a further 97,000 children whose parents receive working tax credit, at a cost of between �20m and �30m.

Opposition parties welcomed the move.

The Scottish National Party deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said: "Our young people deserve a healthy start in life, that's why we are delighted that Labour is supporting our proposal and we look forward to consensus on this issue in the next parliament."

Scottish Socialist Party national convener Colin Fox said: "The concession by the Scottish Executive extending free school meals to children with parents who receive working tax credit is clearly the result of sustained pressure from the Campaign for Free School Meals."

Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan said the CPAG report was a damning indictment of New Labour in Scotland

"Jack McConnell's response to extend free school meals to families on tax credits is too little and too late," he said.