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| Poor children: more are in working families, study says | Poor children: more are in working families, study says |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The proportion of poor children whose parents work has risen, a report on living standards has concluded. | The proportion of poor children whose parents work has risen, a report on living standards has concluded. |
| The number of children in absolute poverty stayed the same between 2009 and 2014, the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) report concluded. | The number of children in absolute poverty stayed the same between 2009 and 2014, the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) report concluded. |
| Rising employment meant more children lived with working parents. | Rising employment meant more children lived with working parents. |
| But the real income of working families fell - so the proportion of poor children in working families rose from 54% to 63%, says the IFS. | But the real income of working families fell - so the proportion of poor children in working families rose from 54% to 63%, says the IFS. |
| A government spokesman said the number of people in in-work poverty was now 200,000 lower than its 2008/9 peak. | A government spokesman said the number of people in in-work poverty was now 200,000 lower than its 2008/9 peak. |
| 'Tackle low pay' | 'Tackle low pay' |
| Report co-author Robert Joyce, senior research economist at the IFS, said: "The government has recently emphasised worklessness as a cause of poverty. | Report co-author Robert Joyce, senior research economist at the IFS, said: "The government has recently emphasised worklessness as a cause of poverty. |
| "This makes sense, but tackling low living standards will be difficult without improvements for working families too." | "This makes sense, but tackling low living standards will be difficult without improvements for working families too." |
| BBC economics correspondent Andy Verity said: "Between 2009 and 2014 benefits broadly rose with inflation but wages didn't. | BBC economics correspondent Andy Verity said: "Between 2009 and 2014 benefits broadly rose with inflation but wages didn't. |
| "As the recovery slowly took hold, more families found work. But because real wages were falling that didn't always mean an exit from poverty." | "As the recovery slowly took hold, more families found work. But because real wages were falling that didn't always mean an exit from poverty." |
| Acting shadow work and pensions secretary Stephen Timms said: "This IFS report shows David Cameron and George Osborne have overseen a huge increase in the number of children in poverty who live in working families and they're set to make matters worse with huge tax credit cuts for working people. | Acting shadow work and pensions secretary Stephen Timms said: "This IFS report shows David Cameron and George Osborne have overseen a huge increase in the number of children in poverty who live in working families and they're set to make matters worse with huge tax credit cuts for working people. |
| "We urge ministers to act now to cut the number of children of working families living in poverty. That means tackling low pay rather than attacking the low-paid with tax credit cuts." | "We urge ministers to act now to cut the number of children of working families living in poverty. That means tackling low pay rather than attacking the low-paid with tax credit cuts." |
| Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Alison Garnham said the number of poor children in working families would continue to increase if government cuts to in-work tax credits go ahead. | Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Alison Garnham said the number of poor children in working families would continue to increase if government cuts to in-work tax credits go ahead. |
| She said: "Removing those children from the scope of poverty measures cannot redefine the reality of their poverty out of existence. | She said: "Removing those children from the scope of poverty measures cannot redefine the reality of their poverty out of existence. |
| "Parents need politicians to strengthen, not weaken, work incentives." | "Parents need politicians to strengthen, not weaken, work incentives." |
| 'Route out of poverty' | 'Route out of poverty' |
| Julia Unwin, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "A strong economy and rising employment have masked the growing problem of in-work poverty, as years of below-inflation wage rises have taken their toll on people's incomes. The upcoming minimum wage rise will help, but many low-income working families will still find themselves worse off due to tax credit changes." | Julia Unwin, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "A strong economy and rising employment have masked the growing problem of in-work poverty, as years of below-inflation wage rises have taken their toll on people's incomes. The upcoming minimum wage rise will help, but many low-income working families will still find themselves worse off due to tax credit changes." |
| "Boosting productivity and creating more jobs which offer progression at work is vital to make work a reliable route out of poverty." | "Boosting productivity and creating more jobs which offer progression at work is vital to make work a reliable route out of poverty." |
| Barnardo's chief executive Javed Khan said: "This report puts paid to the myth that work alone provides a route off the breadline, discrediting the government's Budget plans to cut families' lifeline tax credits." | Barnardo's chief executive Javed Khan said: "This report puts paid to the myth that work alone provides a route off the breadline, discrediting the government's Budget plans to cut families' lifeline tax credits." |
| A government spokesman said: "This report recognises that rising employment has led to increases in the proportion of children living with working parents. | A government spokesman said: "This report recognises that rising employment has led to increases in the proportion of children living with working parents. |
| "And we know that the proportion of people living on low incomes is at the lowest level since the mid-1980s. | "And we know that the proportion of people living on low incomes is at the lowest level since the mid-1980s. |
| "Work remains the best route out of poverty and we want to ensure that when people go out to work they are paid a decent wage and get to keep more of what they earn." | "Work remains the best route out of poverty and we want to ensure that when people go out to work they are paid a decent wage and get to keep more of what they earn." |
| New legislation will look at levels of parental unemployment as well as educational achievement. The new system will also include factors such as educational achievement and living in workless households. | |
| Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |