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08/02/2013
2.3m UK Children In Poverty
2.3m children, one in five, across the UK are living materially deprived lives but are not being included in the government’s measure of poverty.
Thinktank Policy Exchange says the Child Poverty Target is underestimating the number of children living in poverty in the United Kingdom.
A report found it should be replaced with new legislation to cover both household income and social poverty factors, such as whether a child has been in the care system or lives in poor quality housing.
The report identifies a number of problems with the existing measure of child poverty.
It said the measures do not look at factors that have severe impacts on the quality of children’s lives such as quality of housing, standard of education and whether a child has been in the care system.
It found politicians focus on short-term income redistribution rather than trying to help and support parents into employment or higher wage jobs.
The report also said the uplifting of handouts to hit the poverty target favours workless households over working households.
There is also a failure to consider the difference in cost of living across the UK.
In London and the South West, for example, there are lower levels of child poverty than the national average.
But when social poverty issues are taken into account the level rises significantly above places such as the West Midlands and Wales.
The report recommends the introduction of a new Child Poverty Bill to replace the Child Poverty Act 2010.
It said social poverty measures should include factors such as whether the child is a parent, the quality of housing, whether the family are in debt, if the child has ever been in care, if the child or parents have criminal convictions and the level of the child’s education.
(IT)
Thinktank Policy Exchange says the Child Poverty Target is underestimating the number of children living in poverty in the United Kingdom.
A report found it should be replaced with new legislation to cover both household income and social poverty factors, such as whether a child has been in the care system or lives in poor quality housing.
The report identifies a number of problems with the existing measure of child poverty.
It said the measures do not look at factors that have severe impacts on the quality of children’s lives such as quality of housing, standard of education and whether a child has been in the care system.
It found politicians focus on short-term income redistribution rather than trying to help and support parents into employment or higher wage jobs.
The report also said the uplifting of handouts to hit the poverty target favours workless households over working households.
There is also a failure to consider the difference in cost of living across the UK.
In London and the South West, for example, there are lower levels of child poverty than the national average.
But when social poverty issues are taken into account the level rises significantly above places such as the West Midlands and Wales.
The report recommends the introduction of a new Child Poverty Bill to replace the Child Poverty Act 2010.
It said social poverty measures should include factors such as whether the child is a parent, the quality of housing, whether the family are in debt, if the child has ever been in care, if the child or parents have criminal convictions and the level of the child’s education.
(IT)
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19 November 2008
Ministers Attend London Child Poverty Summit
There's to be a combined effort to tackle the issue of child poverty today as Children's Minister, Beverley Hughes; Financial Secretary, Stephen Timms; Minister for London, Tony McNulty; Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and London Councils' Chairman Councillor Merrick Cockell meet to discuss London's child poverty problems and to announce a joint tar
Ministers Attend London Child Poverty Summit
There's to be a combined effort to tackle the issue of child poverty today as Children's Minister, Beverley Hughes; Financial Secretary, Stephen Timms; Minister for London, Tony McNulty; Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and London Councils' Chairman Councillor Merrick Cockell meet to discuss London's child poverty problems and to announce a joint tar
11 October 2011
Gov Tax Plans Will Increase Poverty – IFS
A report by a major economic research institute has found the Governments policies on tax and benefits will lead to a major increase in poverty over the next few years. The forecast from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) into the UK's poverty levels up to 2021 predicts poverty will rise by about 600,000 children and 800,000 working-age adults.
Gov Tax Plans Will Increase Poverty – IFS
A report by a major economic research institute has found the Governments policies on tax and benefits will lead to a major increase in poverty over the next few years. The forecast from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) into the UK's poverty levels up to 2021 predicts poverty will rise by about 600,000 children and 800,000 working-age adults.
28 January 2009
Consultation To End Child Poverty, Launched
The Government has today set out plans to make sure every child gets the best start in life by tackling child poverty, which can unfairly hold children back and prevent them reaching their full potential.
Consultation To End Child Poverty, Launched
The Government has today set out plans to make sure every child gets the best start in life by tackling child poverty, which can unfairly hold children back and prevent them reaching their full potential.
19 June 2007
More than a million children affected by 'severe poverty'
Nearly 1.3 million children are living in severe poverty in the UK, a report by Save the Children has revealed. The charity said that around one in ten children in the UK are now living in families where the income is so low that children are living without essentials like a proper diet or heating in the home.
More than a million children affected by 'severe poverty'
Nearly 1.3 million children are living in severe poverty in the UK, a report by Save the Children has revealed. The charity said that around one in ten children in the UK are now living in families where the income is so low that children are living without essentials like a proper diet or heating in the home.
11 February 2004
Child poverty group calls for plans to revise figures to be dropped
A children's campaign group has claimed that the government is planning to introduce an accounting method which could see up to one million children in poverty wiped off official statistics. The group, End Child Poverty, issued its call as Secretary of State Andrew Smith appears before a Commons Work and Pensions select committee today.
Child poverty group calls for plans to revise figures to be dropped
A children's campaign group has claimed that the government is planning to introduce an accounting method which could see up to one million children in poverty wiped off official statistics. The group, End Child Poverty, issued its call as Secretary of State Andrew Smith appears before a Commons Work and Pensions select committee today.
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