Two-child Limit: Child Poverty

Question

What assessment has the Department made of the potential impact of the two-child limit on trends in the level of child poverty? I am concerned about recent studies indicating that policies such as the benefit cap and wider benefit cuts are pushing more children into hardship, particularly those from larger families. A report by the Child Poverty Action Group found that abolishing the policy would be highly effective in reducing child poverty.

Question

A recent study by the University of York found that the two-child limit and the benefit cap had contributed to rising child poverty, impacting larger families disproportionately. Given the growing weight of evidence showing real harm from welfare policies, will the Government finally acknowledge this and reverse them?

Question

A report by the Child Poverty Action Group showed that the two-child limit affects one in 10 children across the UK, with abolition being a cost-effective measure to reduce child poverty. Why will the Minister not take this action? Is child poverty low on his priority list?

Question

The Minister seems unaware that the two-child limit affects those on in-work benefits. Only if a woman can prove her third or subsequent child is due to rape does she qualify for an exemption. How many women has his Department asked to provide proof of rape to get this exemption?

Question

I am disappointed that the Minister cannot provide this number, as his Department has made 2,590 women prove they were raped in order to get an exemption. Will he feel comfort knowing that if George Osborne's legacy continues under Labour's Blairite leadership, astronomical child poverty rates will persist?