Single-Parent Families — [Ian Paisley in the Chair]

McGovern highlighted the hard work of single parents in caring for their children and committing to employment. She raised concerns about poverty levels among working single-parent families, with 41% of children in such families living below the poverty line despite their parent's employment status. McGovern also discussed the need for better childcare systems, more inclusive workplace policies, and improvements in Jobcentre Plus services tailored specifically for single parents.

The SNP MP highlighted the disproportionate impact of inflation on single-parent families and called for a root-and-branch review of the Child Maintenance Service. He also emphasised the need to reverse damaging long-term policies such as the benefit cap and two-child limit, and stressed the importance of addressing barriers to work like childcare costs. Politicians twist statistics, but if we compare social security spending as a proportion of average earnings, it is back to the days of Lloyd George.

Celebrates single parents as heroes who should be supported through difficult times. Advocates for acknowledging and supporting diverse family structures including two mothers or fathers, a mum and dad, just a mum or dad, or those in care. The hon. Member highlighted the impact of the Scottish child payment, noting that it is having a profound effect on families in Scotland compared to the situation in other parts of the UK where double taxation still occurs. Agrees with Jim Shannon, stating that many single parents do not earn enough to make working worthwhile due to high childcare costs, which prevents them from thriving and merely allows survival. There are many billions of pounds of unclaimed benefits every year, perhaps because the system is too complex for single parents under pressure.

Jim Shannon discussed the challenges faced by single-parent families in his constituency, highlighting financial difficulties, mental health issues, and the need for child maintenance payments. He cited statistics from the Office for National Statistics that 3 million households are led by single parents, representing 15% of all UK households. Shannon expressed concern about the 40% of separated families without a child maintenance arrangement and called on the Government to provide more support. Commends the hon. Lady's contribution and hopes that the Chancellor of the Exchequer might announce extra help for childcare in the Budget, as single parents face severe financial pressure.

In 2019-20, 34% of children in single-parent households were in relative poverty compared to 20% in a household with a couple. Margaret Ferrier argues that scrapping the two-child limit on benefits at a cost of £1.3 billion could lift 250,000 children out of poverty and reduce the number in deep poverty by 850,000. The hon. Member agrees that the Government should scrap the benefit cap, which would lift 300,000 children out of poverty across the UK. Single parents often experience long periods of unemployment, are unable to work desired hours, accept lower-paid jobs, and put their career aspirations on hold. This impacts mental wellbeing, affecting the relationship with children.

The MP briefly mentioned his participation in a local event where financial inclusion issues were discussed, highlighting the need for better social security policies to support single parents.