Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Families Living in Poverty

Monday 17 May 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Barry Sheerman inquired about new steps the government plans to take to support families living in poverty.
  • The government responded that supporting people back into work is their main approach to tackling poverty.
  • Barry Sheerman questioned whether the government would be known as the most heartless since the end of the last world war, citing a report on child poverty.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Barry Sheerman Lab
Economy Employment Children & Families
Context

The question arises from concerns about rising poverty levels, particularly affecting families and children in the UK. Save the Children's report highlights that 4 million children are living in poverty with inadequate food security.

Question

What new steps does she plan to take to support families living in poverty?

Answer from Will Quince

This Government have been clear that supporting people back into work and empowering them to progress in their role is the best approach to tackling poverty. Households where all adults work are six times less likely to be in absolute poverty than households where nobody works. The government is investing over £30 billion through its plan for jobs, which is already delivering results across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific new steps to support families living in poverty beyond general statements about supporting people back into work.

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Q2 Barry Sheerman Lab
Economy Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

A recent report by Save the Children reveals that 4 million children are living in poverty, often without adequate food. This situation is particularly severe in northern England and West Yorkshire.

Question

Are this Government determined to be known as the most heartless Government since the end of the last world war? If these Ministers look at this morning's report from Save the Children, they will see that 4 million children in our country are in poverty, going to bed at night with no food in their tummy. What are the Government going to do about that? It is a disgraceful state of affairs, and it is particularly hitting the north of England and people in the towns of West Yorkshire. Is it not about time we secured good, well-paid jobs and affordable childcare for these people, and tackled the problem, which has got worse and worse since 2010?

Answer from Will Quince

I am disappointed in that question, and I certainly do not recognise the picture painted by the hon. Gentleman. This Government have stepped up to support people facing financial disruption throughout this pandemic, pouring billions of pounds more into our welfare system to support those facing the most financial disruption. Those were short-term, temporary measures—we know that—to support people during the pandemic. I hope he will agree that it is right that our focus should shift to supporting people back into work and to progress into work, because we know that the evidence suggests that work is the best route of poverty. We will achieve this with our £30 billion plan for jobs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address specific actions or commitments to alleviate child poverty beyond general statements about supporting people back into work.

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