Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Child Poverty Taskforce

Monday 23 June 2025 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial policies to lift children out of poverty are under review by the taskforce, including the benefit cap.
  • Mayor Kim McGuinness of the North East has participated actively in early sessions of the child poverty taskforce.
  • The child poverty unit engages regularly with colleagues from the north-east and will hold a dedicated strategy session.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Simon Opher Lab Stroud
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

In Stroud, after 14 years of austerity, over 4,000 children are living in poverty. A recent Joseph Rowntree Foundation report stated that removing the two-child limit and getting rid of the benefit cap could be effective ways to reduce child poverty.

Question

After 14 years of austerity, Stroud has over 4,000 children living in poverty. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggests removing the two-child limit and eliminating the benefit cap as highly effective measures to tackle this issue. Would the Minister be willing at least to review the benefit cap?

Answer from The Minister for Employment (Alison McGovern)

All policies that can lift children out of poverty are under consideration by the taskforce, including reviewing measures such as the benefit cap. We will not commit to any policy without knowing how we will pay for it; however, if there are immediate steps we can take, we will act accordingly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a concrete commitment to review or lift the benefit cap specifically

How: Under Consideration

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Q2 Luke Akehurst Lab North Durham
Children & Families
Context

The issue of child poverty in the north-east has been a significant challenge, and there is an ongoing collaboration between local government and the Department to tackle it.

Question

What update can the Minister provide on the work the Department is doing with the North East Mayor Kim McGuinness’s child poverty reduction unit to address specific drivers of child poverty in our region?

Answer from The Minister for Employment (Alison McGovern)

Child poverty is a significant challenge in the north-east, and Mayor Kim McGuinness has participated actively in early sessions of the child poverty taskforce. The child poverty unit engages regularly with colleagues from the north-east and will hold a dedicated session on strategy with the north-east child poverty commission this week. Mayors have been critical to the development of the strategy.

Answered
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