Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Child Bed Poverty

19 December 2022 · 3 other contributors · 9,133 words

Opened by Catherine McKinnell Lab Newcastle upon Tyne North

Responding minister: Lee Rowley

EconomyBenefits & WelfareChildren & Families

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Catherine McKinnell raised concerns about child bed poverty in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The MP is concerned about over 3.9 million UK children living in poverty, many lacking safe sleeping arrangements due to financial hardship.
  • The MP requests the Government to define child bed poverty, assess the issue with third-sector organisations, and review social housing regulations.
  • The Minister acknowledged the issue, highlighting government spending of 245 billion on welfare and an additional 1 billion for the Household Support Fund.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks the Government to define child bed poverty within its policy framework, conduct a thorough assessment of the issue with third-sector organisations, review regulations in the social housing sector for better protection, commit to addressing financial challenges posed by loan-based support systems, and develop a cross-departmental strategy to eradicate child poverty.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Catherine McKinnell Lab Newcastle upon Tyne North

The MP is concerned about the shocking reality of child bed poverty in the UK, where over 3.9 million children are living in poverty and many lack a safe space to sleep. The issue includes children sleeping on infested sofa cushions or wooden floors, sharing beds with siblings, or even sleeping in baths due to financial hardship. She notes that the problem has worsened since 2018, when Buttle UK estimated around 400,000 children lacked their own bed, and highlights the additional stress caused by rising inflation and cuts to social support measures.

Other contributors (3)
  • Holly Lynch Lab Halifax

    Ms Lynch highlighted the prevalence of bed poverty in the UK, citing statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions. She shared examples of families struggling to provide beds for their children due to financial constraints, affecting both health and academic performance. She also noted that 30% of children in Halifax live in relative poverty and over 25% in absolute poverty, stressing the need for better support. The MP highlighted cases involving kinship carers in Halifax and asked if the Minister would look into support for such families as part of the Government's response to the MacAlister review. She also questioned how financial barriers could be addressed to ensure children do not lack basic necessities.

  • Kim Leadbeater Lab Spen Valley

    The hon. Member highlighted the issue of child bed poverty in her constituency, mentioning that 163 pupils do not sleep in their own beds due to sharing with siblings or sleeping on sofas and floors. She emphasised the negative impact this has on educational attainment and family life.

  • Sarah Owen Lab Luton North

    Sarah Owen highlighted the distressing issue of children without beds, emphasizing the impact on their physical and mental health. She cited studies showing that sleep quality correlates with depression and anxiety levels in adolescence. Owen noted that 3.9 million children are in poverty, with 30% of children in Halifax living below the poverty line. She called for an updated assessment of families unable to afford beds for their children due to recent economic pressures.

Government Response

Lee Rowley

Acknowledged the importance of addressing child bed poverty and thanked Bex Wilson for her work in West Yorkshire. Noted that tackling poverty involves multiple complex reasons, with the government spending £245 billion through the welfare system this financial year to tackle such issues. Highlighted various initiatives including the Household Support Fund, which will receive an additional £1 billion over the next financial year. Emphasised the role of local authorities in allocating funds based on community needs and the Supporting Families Programme to help councils coordinate support for families facing multiple challenges.

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