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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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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.
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.
03 February 2005
Mandela addresses anti-poverty rally in London
Former South African president, Nelson Mandela, has told the crowds at an anti-poverty rally in London that the fight against poverty was as important as the fight against slavery.
Mandela addresses anti-poverty rally in London
Former South African president, Nelson Mandela, has told the crowds at an anti-poverty rally in London that the fight against poverty was as important as the fight against slavery.
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.
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