The government is expected to miss its target of halving the number of children living in poverty by some one million, MPs have warned.
The government is expected to miss its target of halving the number of children living in poverty by some one million, MPs have warned.
The Commons Work and Pensions Committee said the target could be achieved by the due date of 2010, but only if more resources were made available.
The Commons Work and Pensions Committee said the target could be achieved by the due date of 2010, but only if more resources were made available.
The plan to halve child poverty was announced by Tony Blair in 1999.
The plan to halve child poverty was announced by Tony Blair in 1999.
Since then the number has fallen by 600,000 to 2.8m - well short of the 1.7m target.
Since then the number has fallen by 600,000 to 2.8m - well short of the 1.7m target.
'Own poor choices'
'Own poor choices'
The committee said some groups of children had a much higher risk of growing up in poverty, including those who were disabled or who had a disabled parent.
The committee said some groups of children had a much higher risk of growing up in poverty, including those who were disabled or who had a disabled parent.
It was "particularly concerned" that one in five families with a disabled child was so financially constrained that it had to cut down on food.
It was "particularly concerned" that one in five families with a disabled child was so financially constrained that it had to cut down on food.
Many assume... that if someone is poor it must be due to their own poor choices or personal failings Commons Work and Pensions Committee
Many assume... that if someone is poor it must be due to their own poor choices or personal failings Commons Work and Pensions Committee
The rates of poverty among Pakistani and Bangladeshi children were twice those found with white children, while black children also suffered higher rates of poverty than whites.
The rates of poverty among Pakistani and Bangladeshi children were twice those found with white children, while black children also suffered higher rates of poverty than whites.
The rates of poverty were also particularly high in London, the committee said.
The rates of poverty were also particularly high in London, the committee said.
The committee endorsed the government's strategy of trying to help parents find "sustainable" work to lift families out of poverty.
The committee endorsed the government's strategy of trying to help parents find "sustainable" work to lift families out of poverty.
But it said it was concerned the Jobseekers Allowance regime was too inflexible to cope with the "complexity" of many lone parents' situations.
But it said it was concerned the Jobseekers Allowance regime was too inflexible to cope with the "complexity" of many lone parents' situations.
It also recommended the government do more to change the public perception of poverty at a time when sympathy for the poor was at a "low level".
It also recommended the government do more to change the public perception of poverty at a time when sympathy for the poor was at a "low level".
"Many assume that poverty is only a problem in developing countries and the UK's economic success means that if someone is poor it must be due to their own poor choices or personal failings," it said.
"Many assume that poverty is only a problem in developing countries and the UK's economic success means that if someone is poor it must be due to their own poor choices or personal failings," it said.
'Bold action' needed
'Bold action' needed
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said the government had made significant progress, but acknowledged that more needed to be done.
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said the government had made significant progress, but acknowledged that more needed to be done.
"Work has been key to this success - there are now nearly 3 million more people in employment, and the lone parent employment rate has risen dramatically," he said.
"Work has been key to this success - there are now nearly 3 million more people in employment, and the lone parent employment rate has risen dramatically," he said.
"We are putting sustainable employment at the heart of our welfare reforms. We have done a lot, but there is still more to do."
"We are putting sustainable employment at the heart of our welfare reforms. We have done a lot, but there is still more to do."
Julian Walker, UK director of policy and research at children's charity Barnardo's, said: "The longer children are left in poverty, the more damaging its impact on them.
Julian Walker, UK director of policy and research at children's charity Barnardo's, said: "The longer children are left in poverty, the more damaging its impact on them.
"As this report illustrates, a childhood in poverty causes effects which last well into adulthood. Fewer opportunities lead to lower expectations, driving the transmission of poverty from one generation to the next.
"As this report illustrates, a childhood in poverty causes effects which last well into adulthood. Fewer opportunities lead to lower expectations, driving the transmission of poverty from one generation to the next.
"We support the committee's call for the government to take the lead in challenging the public's misconceptions around the causes of poverty in the UK."
"We support the committee's call for the government to take the lead in challenging the public's misconceptions around the causes of poverty in the UK."
The chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said: "Britain has the wealth to end child poverty, it now requires the moral courage of the nation to ensure the necessary steps are taken.
The chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said: "Britain has the wealth to end child poverty, it now requires the moral courage of the nation to ensure the necessary steps are taken.
"The report leaves no doubt that the promise to halve child poverty by 2010 can be met, but it requires bold action in next week's Budget."
"The report leaves no doubt that the promise to halve child poverty by 2010 can be met, but it requires bold action in next week's Budget."
She called for "the £4 billion investment to be made that will ensure the promise to Britain's poorest children is not broken".
She called for "the £4 billion investment to be made that will ensure the promise to Britain's poorest children is not broken".
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