29 October 2007 - New team to tackle UK child poverty
A new team will be set up to drive forward the government’s commitment to eradicate child poverty in the UK, it was announced today.
The new unit will bring together experts from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DSCF) with the remit of co-ordinating and developing policy with HM Treasury and across Whitehall that will support the ongoing work to end child poverty.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain said:
“600,000 children in this country are no longer living in poverty because of measures introduced over the last ten years - such as tax credits and the national minimum wage - and a record 29.1 million people in work.
“I know that work is the best route out of poverty and worklessness deprives too many children of a fair chance in life. I have set out plans to help more people, such as lone parents and disabled people, get the right support and training to have a shot at some of the 660,000 job vacancies that are available on any given day.
“The evidence across the developed world is that being out of work can seriously impact on the health and well-being of children, as well as on education and self-esteem. The challenge for us is how do we ensure that parents are able to take advantage of the opportunities there.
“The new Child Poverty Unit will spearhead the government’s fight against the blight of child poverty, bringing departments and stakeholders together so we can better build on the success that has already been achieved.”
Secretary of State for Children Ed Balls said:
“Ending child poverty is a simple moral imperative; it has no place in modern Britain. There has been an enormous programme of social reform over the past ten years that has lifted 600,000 children out of poverty – but this must accelerate, not plateau.
“The Child Poverty Unit renews our commitment to eradicating child poverty. By working across Government we can think and act strategically, share expertise and join up resources to help end child poverty.
“Most three and four year-olds now access free childcare, thanks to £3 billion of annual funding by Government, which helps many parents get back to work. We have also committed to spending £2 billion more by 2010 on public services aimed at breaking cycles of deprivation - key to meeting our 2020 target. These focus on childcare, raising attainment, improving schools, reducing health inequalities and improving school transport.
“We are also committed to narrowing the gap in educational achievement between children from deprived backgrounds and those who are better off. This will provide a path out of poverty for generations to come.
“The Child Poverty Unit heralds an alignment of priorities and policies that puts the fight to end child poverty firmly at the heart of Government.”
Mr Hain announced the creation of the Child Poverty Unit in a speech today at a conference organised by children’s charity Barnardo’s.
The new team will also draw on the expertise of Barnardo’s policy adviser Neera Sharma, who will join the unit for a year.
The Child Poverty Unit will be located within the DCSF and will begin its work in mid November. It will act as a first point of contact for stakeholders and interest groups, local and national government departments and government agencies.
Notes to Editors
- From 1998/1999 to 2005/2006 the number of children living in relative poverty (before housing costs are taken into account) fell from 3.4 million to 2.8 million.
- The target is to halve this number to 1.7 million by 2010/2011 and to eradicate child poverty by 2020.
- For further information about the Child Poverty Unit contact Eltan Halil in the DWP press office on 0203 267 5123 or Ed Hawkesworth in the DCSF press office on 0207 925 6789.
- Peter Hain's speech is available at the following link: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/speechesindex.asp
DWP Press Office: 0203 267 5144
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk