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| More UK children live in poverty | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The number of children living in relative poverty in the UK rose by 100,000 last year, official figures have revealed. | |
| The first increase in nearly a decade will prompt concern that the government will miss its target of halving child poverty by 2010. | |
| In 2005-6, 2.8m children were in relative poverty - defined as homes on less than 60% of average income. | |
| Children's charity Barnardo's chief called the figures "a moral disgrace". | |
| With housing costs taken into account, the number of children living below the relative poverty line rose to 3.8 million. | |
| The figures represent an increase from 2.7 million and 3.6 million respectively in the previous year. | |
| Since 1998/99, 600,000 children have been lifted out of relative poverty. | |
| But to reach their stated targets, ministers must now help lift a further 1.1 million children above the poverty line by 2010 - or 1.6 million after housing costs are included. | |
| 'Depressing' | |
| "This is a moral disgrace. In 1999, we were all excited by the Government's determination to eradicate child poverty and, on the way, to halve it by 2010," said Barnardo's chief executive Martin Narey. | |
| "It is now clear that what they meant was that they intended, not to halve child poverty by 2010, but to reduce it a bit." | |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne labelled the figures "depressing" and called for a "new approach" to tackle poverty. | |
| "Today's depressing figures show that poverty is increasing, inequality is rising, and the incomes of the poorest fifth are in decline," he said. | |
| He called for an approach "based on social responsibility so that, alongside financial support through tax credits, it can focus on tackling broken communities, poor skills and family breakdown". | |
| 'New Deal' | 'New Deal' |
| The Government said rise in the number of self-employed people falling below the line contributed significantly to this year's rise. | |
| It hopes the launch of a new £150m child poverty strategy, which includes a programme to get parents into employment, will help the government hit its target. | |
| Under the "New Deal for Families", for the first time all applicants at Job Centres will be asked whether or not they have children. | Under the "New Deal for Families", for the first time all applicants at Job Centres will be asked whether or not they have children. |
| The government says advisers can then consider the applicant's need for help with looking after their family. | The government says advisers can then consider the applicant's need for help with looking after their family. |
| In last week's Budget, Chancellor Gordon Brown announced increases in benefits and tax credits aimed at lifting more than 200,000 children out of poverty. | In last week's Budget, Chancellor Gordon Brown announced increases in benefits and tax credits aimed at lifting more than 200,000 children out of poverty. |
| Budget announcements | Budget announcements |
| Save the Children's UK director Colette Marshall said: "This vital target is slipping dangerously out of reach. | Save the Children's UK director Colette Marshall said: "This vital target is slipping dangerously out of reach. |
| "It is only too clear that Gordon Brown's Budget announcements last week will not be enough to get the government back on track. | "It is only too clear that Gordon Brown's Budget announcements last week will not be enough to get the government back on track. |
| "We must now see a sense of urgency from the government to make the target achievable." | "We must now see a sense of urgency from the government to make the target achievable." |