Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Child Poverty

Monday 18 December 2023 · 7 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 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister stated the Department is spending around 124 billion on welfare for people of working age and children in 2023-24.
  • Local housing allowance has been raised back to the 30th percentile, benefiting 1.6 million low-income households.
  • In Lewisham, an additional 13.3 million has been allocated to the household support fund.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mary Glindon Lab Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
Employment Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

Child poverty is a major concern, with numerous families struggling to meet basic needs.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of children in poverty. Figures show over 900,000 job vacancies across the UK and evidence indicates work reduces child poverty risk.

Answer from Mims Davies

In 2023-24 we are spending around £124 billion through the welfare system on people of working age and children. Our focus is on supporting parents into, and to progress within, work with over 900,000 vacancies across the UK. Announcements include raising local housing allowance back to the 30th percentile, increasing benefits and the national living wage.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about steps taken to reduce child poverty was not directly answered with concrete commitments or actions beyond general statements on work support and welfare spending.

How: Under Review, Commitments Already Made

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Q2 Andrew Western Lab Stretford and Urmston
Housing Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

A UNICEF report showed the UK had the worst improvement in child poverty out of 39 OECD and EU countries between 2012-2021, with one in five children in Stretford and Urmston growing up in poverty.

Question

What more can be done to address this truly appalling situation given that a recent UNICEF report showed the UK had the worst improvement in child poverty out of 39 OECD/EU countries between 2012-2021?

Answer from Mims Davies

We have raised local housing allowance back to the 30th percentile, which will benefit 1.6 million low-income households by an average of £800 a year in 2024-25. We also uprated benefits and increased the national living wage.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for more actions to address child poverty was not fully answered with new, concrete commitments beyond previously mentioned measures.

How: Under Review, Commitments Already Made

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Q3 Janet Daby Lab Lewisham East
Children & Families
Context

End Child Poverty reported 30% of children in Lewisham East were in poverty in 2021-22, while food banks saw a 42% increase compared to 2022. The national household support fund was also cut.

Question

Is the Minister really serious about showing leadership needed to stop families from falling into destitution given that End Child Poverty reported 30% of children in Lewisham East are in poverty, and food banks have seen a 42% increase?

Answer from Mims Davies

In Lewisham the household support fund has allocated an additional £13.3 million. There are local hubs for debt management and engagement with the local authority, and warm welcome hubs. Support is available on gov.uk.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about showing leadership to stop destitution was not fully addressed with new commitments beyond previous support measures.

How: Under Review, Commitments Already Made

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Q4 Mary Glindon Lab Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

Figures from the Trussell Trust show that food banks in the north-east provided a record 26,000 emergency food parcels for children between April and September, with need doubling over five years. Most families turn to food banks due to insufficient income.

Question

Will the Minister explain why the current design of universal credit is failing these families given that figures from the Trussell Trust show a record 26,000 emergency food parcels for children in the north-east between April and September?

Answer from Mims Davies

400,000 fewer children are in absolute poverty. We have added food security questions to the family resources survey and will look at that. £8 million has been allocated in the household support fund for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about explaining universal credit's failure was not directly answered with a clear explanation, instead providing figures on poverty reduction and additional funding.

How: Under Review, Commitments Already Made

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Q5 Liz Kendall Lab Leicester West
Housing Employment Children & Families
Context

Over a third of Leicester's children are growing up in poverty, with UNICEF showing the UK had the biggest increase in child poverty out of the world's 40 wealthiest countries.

Question

What is the Minister going to do about it given that over a third of Leicester's children are growing up in poverty?

Answer from Mims Davies

We have raised local housing allowance back to the 30th percentile and uprated working-age benefits. There are almost 1 million job vacancies across the UK, supporting families to progress and do well is our approach.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for actions to address child poverty was not fully answered with new commitments beyond previously mentioned measures.

How: Under Review, Commitments Already Made

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Q6 Liz Kendall Lab Leicester West
Economy Children & Families
Context

3.8 million people face severe hardship this year, including 1 million children, since the Government abolished Labour's Child Poverty Act in 2010.

Question

When will the Minister change course and deliver a cross-Government child poverty strategy given that 3.8 million people face severe hardship this year?

Answer from Mims Davies

We are not following Labour's lead. People might be worried ahead of Christmas, but cost of living payments and the household support fund will assist. Progression leads help families exactly as mentioned.

Not addressed: The specific ask for a cross-Government child poverty strategy was completely avoided by stating they are not following Labour's lead without providing any new strategy or commitment.

How: Disagreement, Change Subject

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Q7 David Linden SNP
Scotland Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

Scotland has lifted 90,000 children out of poverty through measures such as the Scottish child payment. In contrast, the Westminster Government's two-child policy is pushing 250,000 children into poverty.

Question

The actions that we take to lift children out of poverty say an awful lot about our values. In Scotland, we have lifted 90,000 children out of poverty, with measures such as the game-changing Scottish child payment. Here in London, we have a Westminster Government, supported by the Labour party, wedded to a two-child policy that pushes 250,000 children into poverty. What does the Minister think it says about Westminster's values on child poverty that they are wedded to a two-child policy with a rape clause?

Answer from Mims Davies

Adults in workless households are seven times more likely to be in poverty than those in working households. That is why our focus is on work. The Scotland Act 2016 gave the Scottish Parliament the powers that have been invoked, including on the child payment, and that is very pleasing for us. The Act transferred those powers for carers and disability benefits, worth £3.3 billion. The hon. Gentleman and his Government can make the decisions that suit their communities. That is the right approach.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific impact of the two-child policy on child poverty was not addressed directly.

How: Changing Subject To Focus On Work, Referencing Scotland Act 2016

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