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Anti-poverty strategy 'stalling' | Anti-poverty strategy 'stalling' |
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The government's approach to tackling child poverty has lost momentum and is in "urgent need" of a major rethink, a charity has said. | The government's approach to tackling child poverty has lost momentum and is in "urgent need" of a major rethink, a charity has said. |
A Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) report said there has been no sustained progress in the past three years. One in three UK children live in poverty. | A Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) report said there has been no sustained progress in the past three years. One in three UK children live in poverty. |
A report by the Treasury select committee fears the pledge to halve child poverty by 2010 is in doubt. | A report by the Treasury select committee fears the pledge to halve child poverty by 2010 is in doubt. |
Ministers say progress has been made, but acknowledge more needs to be done. | Ministers say progress has been made, but acknowledge more needs to be done. |
The JRF report is also concerned that the number of children in working families that need to escape poverty is rising. | The JRF report is also concerned that the number of children in working families that need to escape poverty is rising. |
Pledges made | Pledges made |
Back in 1999 the-then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, promised to halve the number of poor children in 10 years and to eradicate child poverty in 20 years. | Back in 1999 the-then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, promised to halve the number of poor children in 10 years and to eradicate child poverty in 20 years. |
He also set a more short-term goal to reduce the number of children living in poverty to 3.1 million by April 2005. | He also set a more short-term goal to reduce the number of children living in poverty to 3.1 million by April 2005. |
A tremendous amount of progress has been made in improving the lives of people over the last 10 years Caroline Flint, Minister for Welfare Reform class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7120971.stm">The battle against child poverty | |
Although the total has fallen by 600,000 since then, the government is still 500,000 short of reaching its original target. | Although the total has fallen by 600,000 since then, the government is still 500,000 short of reaching its original target. |
The report's authors say the most serious setback was an increase of 200,000 children living in poverty in 2005/6 - taking the total to 3.8 million, or one in three children, if housing costs are taken into account. | The report's authors say the most serious setback was an increase of 200,000 children living in poverty in 2005/6 - taking the total to 3.8 million, or one in three children, if housing costs are taken into account. |
The JRF report acknowledges that tax credits have made a positive difference to many families. | The JRF report acknowledges that tax credits have made a positive difference to many families. |
But it points out that half of all children in poverty are in working families, suggesting more needs to be done to tackle the problem of low wages. | But it points out that half of all children in poverty are in working families, suggesting more needs to be done to tackle the problem of low wages. |
"Progress on child poverty has stalled at a level that is only half way to the target set of two years ago," said the report's co-author Peter Kenway. | "Progress on child poverty has stalled at a level that is only half way to the target set of two years ago," said the report's co-author Peter Kenway. |
"Tax credits may be working, but they are not enough on their own. | "Tax credits may be working, but they are not enough on their own. |
"Yet the government's budgetary and legislative programme set out this autumn contains no substantial new ideas about what should be done," he added. | "Yet the government's budgetary and legislative programme set out this autumn contains no substantial new ideas about what should be done," he added. |
'More to be done' | 'More to be done' |
The Child Poverty Action Group agrees that "more radical policies" are necessary. | The Child Poverty Action Group agrees that "more radical policies" are necessary. |
"The culture of inequality in Britain has a high cost to individual lives and the whole nation," added the charity's chief executive, Kate Green. | "The culture of inequality in Britain has a high cost to individual lives and the whole nation," added the charity's chief executive, Kate Green. |
"We cannot afford not to address the educational failure, health costs and social division that poverty brings to our communities." | "We cannot afford not to address the educational failure, health costs and social division that poverty brings to our communities." |
WHO IS POOR? Household income less than 60% of median household income after housing costs Single person no children - net income less than £108 pwCouple with two children - net income less than £301pw Lone parent with one child - net income less than £223pw Source: DWP | WHO IS POOR? Household income less than 60% of median household income after housing costs Single person no children - net income less than £108 pwCouple with two children - net income less than £301pw Lone parent with one child - net income less than £223pw Source: DWP |
Meanwhile, the Treasury select committee report says the government's commitment to halve child poverty by 2010 appears to be in doubt. | Meanwhile, the Treasury select committee report says the government's commitment to halve child poverty by 2010 appears to be in doubt. |
It says this is because the government has failed to explain what it is doing to meet the target. | It says this is because the government has failed to explain what it is doing to meet the target. |
It warned any backtracking would represent a "conscious decision to leave hundreds of thousands of children in poverty for longer than is necessary or desirable". | It warned any backtracking would represent a "conscious decision to leave hundreds of thousands of children in poverty for longer than is necessary or desirable". |
'Lives improved' | 'Lives improved' |
The committee said the government's Comprehensive Spending Review - which sets out the long term budgeting - did not explain how the 2010 mark would be met. | The committee said the government's Comprehensive Spending Review - which sets out the long term budgeting - did not explain how the 2010 mark would be met. |
Caroline Flint, minister for employment and welfare reform, defended the government's anti-poverty strategy, which she said had already lifted 600,000 children and more than a million pensioners out of poverty. | Caroline Flint, minister for employment and welfare reform, defended the government's anti-poverty strategy, which she said had already lifted 600,000 children and more than a million pensioners out of poverty. |
"As the JRF has recognised, a tremendous amount of progress has been made in improving the lives of people over the last 10 years," she said. | "As the JRF has recognised, a tremendous amount of progress has been made in improving the lives of people over the last 10 years," she said. |
"But we know that more needs to be done and we firmly believe that sustainable work is the best way out of poverty." | "But we know that more needs to be done and we firmly believe that sustainable work is the best way out of poverty." |
The Department for Work and Pensions has already announced a new cross-government Child Poverty Unit, which it hopes will ensure better co-ordination of efforts by government and other agencies. | The Department for Work and Pensions has already announced a new cross-government Child Poverty Unit, which it hopes will ensure better co-ordination of efforts by government and other agencies. |