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Child Poverty Strategy 2025-12-08
08 December 2025
Lead MP
The Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
No tags
Other Contributors: 43
At a Glance
The Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson raised concerns about child poverty strategy 2025-12-08 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Government Statement
Tackling child poverty is a Labour tradition, emphasising that background should not be a barrier to success. The previous Labour government lifted 600,000 children out of poverty between 1997 and 2010. However, since then, the number has increased by 900,000, reaching 4.5 million today. This Government aims to reduce child poverty through a comprehensive strategy involving income boosts, essential savings, and local support strengthening. Specific actions include expanding free school meals, introducing the crisis and resilience fund (£842 million annually), and removing the two-child limit in universal credit from April 2026. The new measures are expected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty by 2029-30 and reduce overall child poverty significantly. Additionally, the Government has expanded childcare support for working parents and is committed to reviewing early education and childcare access for simplification.
Helen Whately
Con
Faversham and Mid Kent
Question
The shadow Secretary of State criticises the lack of substantial action by the Government on child poverty despite promising a comprehensive strategy. She questions the true impact and motivation behind recent announcements, such as changes to how supermarkets display baby formula and free taxpayer-funded breakfasts.
Minister reply
The Minister emphasises that the Government is committed to tackling child poverty through various measures including expanding childcare support for working parents, lifting the two-child limit in universal credit from April 2026, and continuing efforts to review early education and childcare access.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Question
I welcome the publication of the child poverty strategy but note that measures in the strategy are limited to pilots. When does the Secretary of State expect to roll out the work to eliminate the use of bed-and-breakfast accommodation for families everywhere?
Minister reply
We are working with local authorities with the highest usage of B&Bs to bring those numbers down, and we are backing up this work with investment. We have a homelessness strategy coming forward in due course, which will set out further steps that the Government will take.
Twickenham
Question
The strategy includes existing proposals but lacks new measures urgently needed to tackle child poverty. The Secretary of State could start by properly funding the expansion in free school meals and setting a cap on the cost of branded school uniforms.
Minister reply
We are focused on healing the scars inflicted by previous policies such as the two-child limit, raising standards for education, investing in social housing, expanding Government-funded childcare, introducing new school-based nurseries, and addressing long-term structural issues like unemployment rates and family structure.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
Question
Over 4,000 children in my constituency are living in poverty. How can we ensure families do not need to rely on food banks?
Minister reply
I pay tribute to the work of community volunteers running food banks and agree that we must strive for a future where all families have enough income to buy what they need without relying on these services.
Chris Vince
Lab/Co-op
Harlow
Question
How will these policies improve educational outcomes in Harlow?
Minister reply
These investments aim to support children's life chances and education, reducing gaps in attainment for those on free school meals. They are also an investment in our teachers and staff.
Ian Roome
LD
North Devon
Question
How does the new strategy address poverty in rural and coastal communities?
Minister reply
We recognise that many parents in these areas face low wages, thus we are increasing minimum wage, expanding Government-funded childcare, creating school-based nurseries, and rolling out free breakfast clubs to support working families.
Peter Swallow
Lab
Bracknell
Question
Poverty affects all communities in the UK. What is our moral mission to stamp out child poverty?
Minister reply
Child poverty blights life chances across the country, and it must be our moral mission to eradicate it wherever we find it.
Louie French
Con
Old Bexley and Sidcup
Question
How many more children do you expect to grow up in poverty with rising unemployment and taxes?
Minister reply
We support working people and have seen 329,000 more people in work than a year ago. The Tory party's decisions pushed hundreds of thousands of children into poverty.
Johanna Baxter
Lab
Paisley and Renfrewshire South
Question
What assurances can you give to ensure constituents get the same opportunities as those in other parts of the UK?
Minister reply
We will continue to work with all Governments to bring down poverty. The SNP Government's record on homelessness is appalling, and decisive action is needed.
Kirsty Blackman
SNP
Aberdeen North
Question
Why has the child poverty strategy taken a year and a half to publish? What are the evaluation criteria?
Minister reply
The document was published after extensive research, unlike the Scottish policy which had criteria. We will ensure these changes make a positive difference.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
I warmly congratulate the Secretary on the introduction of the child poverty strategy, particularly lifting the two-child limit. May I press her on targets to reduce child poverty by 35% by 2033, which would result in fewer infant mortality deaths, looked-after children and emergency admissions for children?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her work in this area. Through the development of the strategy and the taskforce, we took evidence from experts on poverty's relationship with health inequalities. We will continue to consider the impact of poverty on health, including health inequalities.
Chichester
Question
The Government’s response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s report into infant formula is a welcome first step in the child poverty strategy. Will the Secretary tell me when we can expect legislation to be reviewed, as committed to last week?
Minister reply
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her work on this important issue. Parents will save up to £500 annually due to our plans for action on baby formula. We have also expanded support for breastfeeding through national helplines and Best Start family hubs, ensuring parents have choices about their approach.
David Williams
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent North
Question
The removal of the two-child limit is welcome news in my constituency, lifting over 4,000 kids out of poverty. Given Stoke-on-Trent's high numbers of children living in poverty due to austerity measures, should we start building back local, personalised family support through family hubs, which were decimated under the previous Government?
Minister reply
I agree with my hon. Friend and know from his work at a Sure Start centre that Best Start family hubs will draw on what worked in Sure Start. We are committed to funding all local authorities for these hubs, backed by £500 million to support families nationwide, creating 1,000 hubs by the end of 2028.
Ann Davies
PC
Caerfyrddin
Question
Welcoming the scrapping of the two-child limit as a cornerstone of this strategy, Plaid Cymru has led the charge against it. However, with 34% of children in Wales living in poverty and many hit by the benefit cap, will the Secretary build on the child poverty strategy to remove or raise the benefit cap?
Minister reply
It is a Labour Government lifting the two-child limit and ensuring support for all children across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The hon. Member references the benefit cap which applies only to families without someone in work, limiting total benefits received.
Stella Creasy
Lab/Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
I welcome the Secretary’s plans for a review of early years funding. Currently, 20% of those taking up 30 hours of free childcare are on lowest incomes. Will she meet me and others to discuss bringing systems together so that 1 million women out of work due to caring commitments are not forgotten?
Minister reply
I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss further. Key commitments include making the system simpler, expanding Government-funded childcare, universal credit cost caps, and up-front childcare costs assistance from work coaches in jobcentres.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Question
What assessment has been made of child poverty impact due to the Government’s approach on changing local government funding? Westmorland and Furness council stands to lose 13% of its budget, exacerbating child poverty in Kendal where one in five children live in poverty. Will she urgently talk to Cabinet colleagues to prevent these cuts?
Minister reply
I am sure the hon. Gentleman has made his views known to MHCLG Ministers but will ensure they are passed along. Lifting the two-child limit, expanding childcare access, free school meals, increasing national minimum wage and rights at work are big changes making a real difference.
Ian Lavery
Lab
Blyth and Ashington
Question
It is obvious how uninterested our Conservative friends are in eradicating child poverty. It is a moral duty to remove every single child from poverty. Thank you for lifting the two-child cap, benefiting 3,000 bairns in my constituency last week. Will she reassure me that discussions will take place about universal free school meals roll-out so people get what others do?
Minister reply
I appreciate my hon. Friend's comments and understand his constituents' concerns regarding the roll-out of universal free school meals.
Zöe Franklin
Lib Dem
Guildford
Question
In my constituency, as in so many others, we face the particular challenge of significant affluence in one part and extreme poverty just across the road. In some areas, one in three children are living in poverty, despite the great work of many local organisations. What measures in the strategy will address that challenge specifically?
Minister reply
I recognise that even in more seemingly affluent communities there can be pockets of deprivation, and many children can still be living in poverty. The measures set out both in the child poverty strategy and in the Budget will make a big difference to the hon. Lady’s constituency by freezing rail fares, freezing prescription charges, increasing the national minimum wage, providing 30 hours of Government-funded childcare, creating new free breakfast clubs, or providing free school meals for all families on universal credit.
Harpreet Uppal
Lab
Huddersfield
Question
I welcome the strategy, particularly the work on the new measure of deep material poverty—that will be important for understanding the experience of children. For how long will the holiday food programme be extended, and how quickly will family hubs be rolled out?
Minister reply
We are investing £500 million more to ensure that we expand Best Start family hubs to local authorities that do not have that provision. By the end of the Parliament, 1,000 hubs will have been rolled out. We have confirmed over £600 million for the holiday activities and food programme for the next three financial years.
Helen Maguire
Lib Dem
Epsom and Ewell
Question
I welcome the Government’s roll-out of free school breakfasts in every primary school. However, I recently visited a local school that is part of the early adopter scheme. Staff there shared their concerns that the funding is not enough to provide a full breakfast for each child. In some cases, children go without anything. Will the Secretary of State confirm that schools are receiving enough money to ensure that children are getting a proper breakfast?
Minister reply
In launching the first phase—the early adopter phase—of our plan for 750 free breakfast clubs, we wanted to ensure that we covered schools in different communities and contexts with different cohorts of students. We have been able to learn from this in setting out how we will deliver funding for the next phase, from April 2026. Views can also be shared through the peer network established by the Department so that schools can share experiences and good practice.
Tom Collins
Lab
Worcester
Question
As the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on family hubs, I am pleased that Best Start family hubs are at the heart of the strategy, and that the strategy values a fresh approach rooted in place, community and partnership across sectors. Will she ensure that this continues?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is doing tremendous work in that area through the APPG. I would be more than happy to ensure that the Department—through officials or Ministers—continues to work with the APPG as we roll out Best Start family hubs and learn from the best evidence on how we can continue to support parents and families.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
The announcement on the two-child benefit cap is welcome, and it will potentially take 103,000 children out of poverty in Northern Ireland. However, as the Prime Minister said, it is important to remember that three quarters of children in poverty are in working families. I respectfully ask the Secretary of State to advise on the specific measures in the child poverty strategy that will protect children with working parents.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman will know that I also visited Northern Ireland through the work of the child poverty taskforce to meet campaigners, charities and parents to understand the challenges they face. Some of those challenges are shared, such as those of the social security system, and lifting the two-child limit will make a big difference in Northern Ireland.
Sam Rushworth
Lab
Bishop Auckland
Question
I appreciate that it is impossible to do everything all at once given the state of our inheritance, but even with the measures announced, children in Shildon and Crook—two towns of 10,000 people in my constituency with high levels of child poverty—will not have a Best Start family hub. Will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss what we can do for those children?
Minister reply
I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend. I know he has done an incredible amount to champion the life chances of children in his community, which covers many towns and villages and a big rural population. That presents some unique challenges, and perhaps we could discuss that further and how we can ensure that more of his constituents benefit from family support services.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
Question
Following 14 years of Tory austerity, harsh cuts to public services and a cost of living crisis, more than half of all children in my Manchester Rusholme constituency are living in poverty. My right hon. Friend has shown excellent leadership through this strategy, but given the dire condition in which the Tories left the country, may I encourage her to look at measures to prevent the causes of poverty and to go further?
Minister reply
Yes. Like my hon. Friend, I am always ambitious to do more to lift more children out of poverty and to create better conditions to tackle the root causes of poverty. This ambitious strategy is an incredibly strong start that will see the biggest reduction in child poverty numbers in any Parliament since records began.
Nia Griffith
Lab
Llanelli
Question
What assurance can she give that her colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions are making available the necessary staffing levels and training so that the enhanced payments reach families without any delay or complications?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who has a long-standing commitment to tackling child poverty. It was clear through the strategy that lifting the two-child limit is the single most effective way to lift the greatest number of children out of poverty, alongside the wider measures we are taking to tackle the root causes of child poverty.
Robert Jenrick
Con
Penistone and Stocksbridge
Question
I welcome the child poverty strategy, but I urge the Secretary of State to look at opportunities for a family hub in Chapeltown in my constituency that will also serve Burncross and Ecclesfield.
Minister reply
Yes, I would be happy to discuss this further with my hon. Friend. The strategy includes measures to address child poverty through family hubs and other support services.
Mohammad Yasin
Lab
Bedford
Question
The strategy includes welcome measures for families in Bedford and Kempston, but one of the most urgent issues is the rise in families living in temporary accommodation. Will the Secretary of State set clear targets to reduce this?
Minister reply
Yes, we are taking action on high numbers of people living in temporary accommodation inherited from the previous government. We have made progress with numbers falling by over 40% since June and are investing more in local councils that see the biggest use of B&Bs.
Rosie Wrighting
Lab
Kettering
Question
Investing in a child early on is key to success. Can the Secretary of State explain how this strategy will ensure young adults break the cycle of poverty?
Minister reply
The evidence shows the impact on educational outcomes and supporting parents to work more hours. The measures aim to lift children out of poverty at an early age.
Antonia Bance
Lab
Tipton and Wednesbury
Question
Can the Secretary of State tell us about what she will do to ensure that our youngest children, in particular, are out of bed-and-breakfast accommodation as soon as possible?
Minister reply
We aim to cut the number of school days lost by children in temporary accommodation and investing more in local authorities making big use of B&Bs. We also focus on building more social and affordable homes.
Alex Sobel
Lab/Co-op
Leeds Central
Question
What will the Secretary of State do to poverty-proof schools against issues such as digital equipment or anything that creates inequality in schools?
Minister reply
We are bringing down costs for parents by capping branded items at school. This ensures children can be smart without it costing their families a lot.
Perran Moon
Lab
Camborne and Redruth
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that through the new strategy, it is possible to make out a ladder of hope from cradle to career for children from our poorest backgrounds?
Minister reply
Yes, by lifting 5,500 children in Derby South out of poverty and ensuring no child grows up in temporary accommodation or bed-and-breakfast.
Baggy Shanker
Lab/Co-op
Derby South
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that no child should be brought up in a bed and breakfast?
Minister reply
Absolutely, we are taking action to bring down those numbers, build more social homes and give parents the skills needed for good jobs.
Olivia Blake
Lab
Sheffield Hallam
Question
Following my debate in June, I welcome the recognition of children with no recourse to public funds as part of the strategy. Will my right hon. Friend confirm what assessments have been undertaken on recent proposals to extend pathways to settlement?
Minister reply
Important safeguards exist within the system for vulnerable migrant children and I will ensure that my hon. Friend gets a meeting to discuss her concerns further.
Andrew Pakes
Lab
Peterborough
Question
The strategy is not just about poverty of family budget, but the poverty of ambition. What does the strategy do to lift ambition for apprenticeships and skills?
Minister reply
We are working on our post-16 strategy to ensure great options for young people in academic, technical and vocational routes.
Jim Dickson
Lab
Dartford
Question
The strategy is not just about reducing the numbers but about making an investment in UK's future. Does she agree?
Minister reply
It addresses big challenges to tackle structural causes of child poverty, supporting families and ensuring fewer children are growing up in poverty at the end of this Parliament.
Jacob Collier
Lab
Burton and Uttoxeter
Question
Will my right hon. Friend ensure that this Government continue to drive down poverty and support families?
Minister reply
By rolling out breakfast clubs, expanding free school meals and childcare, we will ensure far fewer children are growing up in poverty at the end of this Parliament.
Anna Dixon
Lab
Shipley
Question
Children across my Shipley constituency see at first hand the impact of child poverty in their schools and communities. I recently visited the Shipley school uniform hub, run by the Salvation Army, which provides pre-loved uniforms to families who can barely afford the essentials. Does she agree with me that delivering on this strategy will not only require action across Government but working in partnership with communities, in particular faith communities?
Minister reply
Yes, I absolutely agree. The taskforce has heard evidence from faith communities about what they are seeking to do to support families. We also know that if children and families were not enduring such hardship and poverty, those volunteers could dedicate more time to important projects around issues like loneliness and support for residents who are experiencing real disadvantage.
Shaun Davies
Lab
Telford
Question
I was a child who received free school meals when my both my parents were working. Free school meals gave me a helping hand, not a handout. Now 4,000 children in Telford are looking for the same, so that they can contribute proudly to this country and its future. Will my right hon. Friend tell me one reason why she believes that the Conservatives wants to plunge 4,000 Telford children back into poverty?
Minister reply
The Conservative party is using our children as pawns to make a political argument that is not borne out by the evidence. Children in my hon. Friend’s community will benefit from the difference that a Labour Government are making, whether through lifting the two-child limit, expanding free school meals or improved childcare for families.
Sarah Russell
Lab
Congleton
Question
Some 174,000 children live in temporary accommodation at a cost of £2.2 billion so I welcome the Secretary of State’s commitment to reducing those numbers. However, even if they were reduced dramatically, many children would still face safeguarding problems. Eighty children died while living in temporary accommodation last year, so will she outline how she will facilitate better information sharing between services and local authorities specifically with regard to children in temporary accommodation?
Minister reply
This is an enormous challenge as my hon. Friend identifies. We are investing more and we are determined to bring that down. It will require a lot of us, right across Government, to work on this issue. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will shortly be setting out its homelessness strategy with further measures to bring down the use of temporary accommodation.
Frank McNally
Lab
Coatbridge and Bellshill
Question
I greatly welcome the child poverty strategy. More than 2,000 children in my constituency and close to 100,000 children in Scotland will benefit from the abolition of the two-child benefit cap. However, it is a shocking reality that 10,000 children in Scotland are languishing in temporary accommodation this Christmas. The SNP has declared a housing emergency but has done very little to address it. Will my right hon. Friend outline what steps she can take to work with the Scottish Government if necessary to try to tackle this crisis head on?
Minister reply
We have worked with Governments rights across the UK in the development of the strategy, but my hon. Friend is right to highlight the shocking and appalling legacy of years of SNP failure. That is why it is time for a new direction for Scotland with Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour.
Paul Waugh
Lab
Rochdale
Question
When I was growing up in the ’90s and ’00s, I had never heard of a food bank; they simply did not exist. There are now more than 3,000 in the country, including Hope for Belper in my constituency. Does my right hon. Friend agree that when the Conservatives talk about cutting £47 billion from public expenditure, that would hit the poorest worst? May I also urge her to work at pace on the curriculum review?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for all that he has done over many years to champion children’s life chances and to tackle child poverty. No child should suffer the consequences or the punishment of the two-child limit for decisions beyond their control, and I am pleased that those families in his constituency will see a big difference to their life chances thanks to this Labour Government.
Jonathan Davies
Lab
Mid Derbyshire
Question
When I was growing up in the ’90s and ’00s, I had never heard of a food bank; they simply did not exist. There are now more than 3,000 in the country, including Hope for Belper in my constituency. Does my right hon. Friend agree that when the Conservatives talk about cutting £47 billion from public expenditure, that would hit the poorest worst? May I also urge her to work at pace on the curriculum review?
Minister reply
Yes, we will address the short-term challenges we face but we will also address the long-term structural challenges that have led us into the situation where so many children see their life chances blighted by avoidable poverty. We are investing in the future of our children. Some people and the Conservatives say that we cannot afford to act, but we must act now; the consequences and the cost to our society are just too great.
Shadow Comment
Helen Whately
Shadow Comment
While all agree that children should not grow up in poverty, the shadow Secretary of State criticises the Government's lack of credible action. The announcement on baby formula display changes is seen as a superficial attempt to address child poverty. Lifting the two-child cap will raise taxes for working people and disincentivize work, undermining the Government’s efforts to reduce poverty.
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