Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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The Child Poverty Action Group has published a study detailing the impact of child poverty on health, education, and social lives.
What recent assessment has been made by the Department regarding trends in the level of child poverty? The report highlighted children going hungry and ashamed to invite friends home due to lack of food.
There are 743,000 fewer children in workless households compared with 2010. The evidence shows that work is the best route out of poverty. A child living in a household where all adults work is about five times less likely to be in poverty than children in households where nobody works.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Families struggle with the up-front costs of childcare.
What help is being given to families to cover the upfront costs of childcare?
Universal credit works with payments in arrears, covering 85% of eligible childcare costs compared to 70% under the legacy system. The flexible support fund can also be used to help with such costs.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
According to the Department's figures, most households affected by the two-child limit are in work but on low incomes.
Will the Minister speak with the Chancellor to end the two-child policy this week during the Budget? The policy pushes working families further into poverty and undermines social security support for them.
Child benefit continues to be paid for all children, with an additional amount for disabled children. The two-child policy is not targeted to reduce child poverty but ensures fairness between claimants and those supporting themselves through work.
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Assessment & feedback
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