Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Child Poverty Action Group estimates that more than 100 children are being dragged into poverty every day due to government policies, especially the two-child cap. This amounts to almost 3,400 children between now and the Chancellor's autumn statement in November.
What steps is he taking with Cabinet colleagues to reduce the number of children in poverty given that the Child Poverty Action Group estimates more than 100 children are dragged into poverty every day due to government policies such as the two-child cap, equating to almost 3,400 children by the autumn statement?
This Government are acting now. We have already announced that all children in families in receipt of universal credit will receive free school meals, lifting 100,000 children out of poverty. We have capped the cost of school uniforms and introduced a new crisis and resilience fund. Our Child Maintenance Service reforms will lift 20,000 children out of poverty, and much more will be done when the child poverty taskforce reports later this year.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister acknowledged the issue but did not commit to scrapping the two-child benefit cap or provide a timeline for doing so.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The cost of living crisis is a significant issue for families, and scrapping the two-child benefit cap could lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.
Given that one way to really help struggling families would be to lift the two-child benefit cap, which would lift hundreds of thousands of children across the country out of poverty including many in my constituency, will the Minister confirm whether the forthcoming Budget should announce that this policy will be scrapped?
My hon. Friend will understand that I am not going to make policy from the Dispatch Box. All available levers are under consideration as part of our child poverty taskforce, which will report later this year.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address whether or not the two-child benefit cap would be scrapped in the upcoming Budget.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a concern that lifting the two-child benefit cap could increase worklessness and require significant funding, potentially leading to tax increases.
Does the Minister share my concern that lifting the two-child benefit cap will increase worklessness, and can he guarantee that taxes will not go up in next month’s Budget for adults who work hard and make careful decisions about family size?
I am stunned to hear that the fight that the Opposition Front Benchers are choosing to pick on this occasion is opposing universal free breakfast clubs, when we know that well-fed children have hungry minds. The shadow Minister lectures from an Opposition who left almost 3 million people in this country economically inactive and around 1 million young people out of work.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the concerns about increased worklessness or tax increases but instead criticized the opposition for opposing universal free breakfast clubs.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions previously stated that it is open to debate as to whether the two-child limit is harmful, but statistics show it has driven more than 730,000 children into poverty.
Given that last year the new Secretary of State said that it is open to debate as to whether the two-child limit is harmful and this policy has been the most impactful in driving children into poverty, will the Minister acknowledge that the two-child limit is harmful?
I am happy to acknowledge the findings of the Child Poverty Action Group, which I think has put forward the statistics that the hon. Gentleman sets out. This is not the only lever available to us, all levers are under active consideration.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister acknowledged the harmful impact but did not commit to scrapping or modifying the policy.
Response accuracy