The lives of children are still "largely determined" by the social class they were born into, the First Minister's poverty adviser has said.

Naomi Eisenstadt has made the judgment in her second report to the Scottish Government.

The report contains 18 recommendations to improve the lives of young people in Scotland.

These include creating more affordable housing and lobbying the UK Government to raise the minimum wage for under 25s.

In her report, Ms Eisenstadt said: "While there is much to be optimistic about in terms of improving school performance, record low youth unemployment and the vast majority of young people leaving school with a positive post- school destination, the persistence of the social class gradient is deeply worrying.

"The fundamental fact remains that life outcomes are largely determined by the wealth and social class of one's parents at birth.

"This applies across the social spectrum, not only to the richest and poorest of families. And it represents not just fundamental unfairness but also significant waste of talent and opportunity for the economy and social cohesion of Scotland."

The report was welcomed by the First Minister, who said it gave her administration and the UK Government a "useful challenge".

She said: "Naomi Eisenstadt has again provided robust advice to the Scottish Government on how we can tackle poverty and inequality in Scotland.

"When I appointed Naomi in June 2015, I was clear that I wanted her to challenge the government and scrutinise the work we were doing to alleviate poverty and inequality.

"Her first report made a number of useful recommendations and we are making significant progress in implementing these, as the progress report also published today shows.

Opposition parties called on the SNP to take action on poverty.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: "The SNP has long been content to talk left at Westminster while doing nothing in government at Holyrood.

"SNP ministers talk about creating a bright future for our young people, yet have slashed tens of thousands of college places across Scotland and presided over the worst crisis in Scotland's schools since."