Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Child Poverty

Wednesday 24 June 2026 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tackling child poverty is a priority for the Labour Government, including scrapping the two-child limit and expanding free school meals.
  • Libraries play a crucial role in improving literacy levels among children and young people.
  • The Labour Government aims to lift more children out of poverty than any previous Parliament.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Education Economy Children & Families
Context

The question addresses the inequalities experienced by children in poverty, highlighting the need for government intervention to improve their life chances.

Question

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce inequalities experienced by children in poverty. I am concerned about the high levels of child poverty and its impact on future generations. The two-child limit has been scrapped, free childcare and best start family hubs are being rolled out, but more needs to be done.

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

Tackling child poverty is a moral mission for this Labour Government. We are improving the life chances of every child by scrapping the two-child limit, rolling out free childcare, Best Start family hubs, and free breakfast clubs, and expanding free school meals. Our child poverty strategy will deliver the largest reduction in child poverty in a single Parliament.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify specific steps being taken with Cabinet colleagues.

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Q2 David Williams Lab Stoke-on-Trent North
Culture, Media & Sport Children & Families
Context

The question addresses literacy levels in Stoke-on-Trent and Kidsgrove, which fall below the national average. The concern is that local libraries are being used to promote divisive cultural debates instead of providing inclusive access.

Question

In Stoke-on-Trent and Kidsgrove, literacy levels among our children and young people fall behind the England average. That can severely impact a young person's future earnings. Our libraries play a key role in addressing that, yet Reform-led Staffordshire county council has ordered them to remove Pride displays. Does the Secretary of State agree that libraries should be inclusive and welcoming to all, and that children and young people should never be placed at the centre of such divisive culture wars?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I completely agree with my hon. Friend. The joy of reading should be open to every child, and that is really important in this National Year of Reading. Local libraries are special places, and Reform should be investing in our libraries, so that children can access them, not shutting down displays that make all families feel welcome.

Answered
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Q3 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Scotland Children & Families
Context

The question addresses the attainment gap in educational performance, particularly for children growing up in poverty. It highlights past failures by both Conservative and SNP policies.

Question

We know that the attainment gap holds back children who grow up in poverty. The gap reached its highest levels under the Tories, and in Scotland the SNP has failed to close it. Does the Minister agree that it is shameful that the Tories' only policies for children are bringing back the two-child limit, plunging hundreds of thousands into poverty, and bringing back tax breaks for private schools?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I am proud of the last Labour Government's record on tackling child poverty, but this Labour Government are going even further. We will lift the largest ever number of children out of poverty in a single Parliament, in sharp contrast with the Conservative party, which would plunge half a million children back into poverty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not directly address whether the minister agrees that it is shameful for Tories to have such policies.

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