Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (): Today, my right Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State
for Education (The Rt Hon ), and I are pleased to
announce that we are publishing ‘Tackling Child Poverty:
Developing our strategy'.
Since 2010, child poverty has increased by 700,000, with over
four million children living in poverty in the UK, and 800,000
children using foodbanks to eat. This is a scar on our society,
which holds back children's life chances and damages our
country's prospects. Breaking the link between background and
success in life is at the heart of our Opportunity and Growth
Missions.
The Prime Minister has tasked us to develop an ambitious Child
Poverty Strategy which will be published in Spring 2025. This is
a shared endeavour across all parts of the UK, and we can learn
from action being taken in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Our Government will tackle overall child poverty, assessed by the
leading and internationally recognised measure of poverty, but
also go beyond that to focus on children in deepest poverty
lacking essentials, and what is needed to give every child the
best start in life.
Today, our publication sets out how we will develop the Strategy
which will harness all available levers to deliver a reduction in
child poverty this Parliament as part of an ambitious ten-year
strategy which addresses root causes including:
- Supporting households to increase their income, including
considering social security reforms that support people into work
and alleviate poverty.
- Helping to bring down essential household costs.
- Increasing financial resilience by tackling problem debt and
helping families manage financial shocks through savings and
affordable credit.
- Alleviating the negative experience of living in poverty,
including through supporting families and the role of public
services.
Over the coming months, the Child Poverty Taskforce will hear
directly from experts on each of the Strategy's themes including
children and families living in poverty and work with leading
organisations, charities, and campaigners.
- In October, we have invited partners in industry, regulation
and the charity sector to share evidence and ideas on options to
reduce essential costs for low-income families.
- In November, employers, trade unions and think tanks will be
invited to discuss options to increase incomes and financial
resilience in low-income households.
- In December, experts on children's health, early years and
education and representatives from civil society will be invited
to share experience and expertise on ensuring low-income families
are able to access quality services to tackle the impacts of
poverty.
Ministers will take part in engagement events across the nations
and regions of the UK, bringing together a diverse range of
voices. A new forum of parents and carers living across the UK
will be set up to ensure the experiences of children in poverty,
including disabled children and those with special educational
needs, are included. They will feed directly into the Strategy.
Living in poverty not only harms children's lives now, it damages
their future prospects and holds back our country. Children
living in poverty are denied the opportunities that should enable
them to achieve and thrive. And Britain cannot see maximum
economic growth when the talents of so many children are being
lost. Our ambitious Child Poverty Strategy will reduce child
poverty, tackle the root causes, and give every child the best
start in life.
Tackling Child Poverty:
Developing Our Strategy
