Menu
15/11/2012
Factors Used To Measure Child Poverty To Expand
Factors used to measure child poverty could change to include family breakdown, drug addiction, debt and education results, ministers say.
While recent figures showed fewer children in poverty, this was largely because falling wages have narrowed the gap between the poorest and average earners.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith says the current income-based method of measuring poverty is too simple, and has announced he is launching a consultation on how to include other factors.
But Labour suggested that the government was trying to "distract attention" from "rather bleak" trends in child poverty data.
A child is considered to be living in poverty if their household income is less than 60% of averages wages.
Last year that figure equated to £251 per week, which meant 2.3 million children were living in poverty.
That was 300,000 fewer children than the year before - but the reduction was due to average incomes falling rather than poorer families becoming better off.
Mr Duncan Smith says life is unchanged for these children and a broader definition of child poverty is needed.
(H)
While recent figures showed fewer children in poverty, this was largely because falling wages have narrowed the gap between the poorest and average earners.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith says the current income-based method of measuring poverty is too simple, and has announced he is launching a consultation on how to include other factors.
But Labour suggested that the government was trying to "distract attention" from "rather bleak" trends in child poverty data.
A child is considered to be living in poverty if their household income is less than 60% of averages wages.
Last year that figure equated to £251 per week, which meant 2.3 million children were living in poverty.
That was 300,000 fewer children than the year before - but the reduction was due to average incomes falling rather than poorer families becoming better off.
Mr Duncan Smith says life is unchanged for these children and a broader definition of child poverty is needed.
(H)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
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.
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.
14 June 2012
2% Fall In Child Poverty Figures
New official figures have revealed that the number of children living in poverty in the UK fell by 300,000 last year. Figures for 2010/11, show that 2.3 million children (18%) lived in households classed as below the poverty line, a 2% decrease on the previous year. The numbers are based on median incomes, which also went down in the same period.
2% Fall In Child Poverty Figures
New official figures have revealed that the number of children living in poverty in the UK fell by 300,000 last year. Figures for 2010/11, show that 2.3 million children (18%) lived in households classed as below the poverty line, a 2% decrease on the previous year. The numbers are based on median incomes, which also went down in the same period.
15 October 2003
Government 'on course' to meet short-term poverty goals
The government is on course to meet its short-term target for reducing child poverty, according to projections for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The foundation has said that around one million children will have been taken out of poverty by the spring of 2004, compared with 1997.
Government 'on course' to meet short-term poverty goals
The government is on course to meet its short-term target for reducing child poverty, according to projections for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The foundation has said that around one million children will have been taken out of poverty by the spring of 2004, compared with 1997.
21 August 2003
Children in poverty need extra £5 per week, says charity
The government will "almost certainly" miss its first target for reducing child poverty unless tax credits for children are increased from next April, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) claimed today.
Children in poverty need extra £5 per week, says charity
The government will "almost certainly" miss its first target for reducing child poverty unless tax credits for children are increased from next April, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) claimed today.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
