Commons Sense

Hansard-based summaries and metrics

UNICEF Report on Child Poverty 2023-12-18

2023-12-18

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Alex Cunningham
▸ Context
UNICEF released a report titled “Child Poverty in the Midst of Wealth”, prompting an assessment on its potential implications for current policies.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of UNICEF's report entitled “Child Poverty in the Midst of Wealth”.
Mims Davies
The overall number of children in absolute poverty after housing costs remained stable between 2020-21 and 2021-22. The latest statistics show that in 2021-22 there were 400,000 fewer children in absolute poverty, after housing costs, than in 2009-10. The Government continue to provide comprehensive support to help people find, progress in and thrive in work, recognising that this has to be sustainable in tackling poverty.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific implications of UNICEF's report on current policies
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Alex Cunningham
▸ Context
The Prime Minister previously claimed that child poverty was down, but recent statistics show a considerable rise across every part of the north-east. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1 million British children have suffered destitution in the past year.
When I asked the Prime Minister why 34% of children in Stockton North live in poverty and he claimed that child poverty was down, even if we rely on his and his Government's unique measuring tool, child poverty is still up considerably across every part of the north-east under his watch. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1 million British children have suffered destitution in the past year. When will the Prime Minister and his Ministers stop pretending that they care and make way for a Labour Government who will sort out the mess that shames the Tories?
Mims Davies
The Government are determined to ensure that all children, wherever they come from, have the best start in life. We are committed to supporting families and helping them into work. The full uprating, this year and last, is the signal.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Did not address when the Prime Minister will acknowledge rising child poverty or step down
Response accuracy