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Child Poverty and No Recourse to Public Funds
11 June 2025
Lead MP
Olivia Blake
Sheffield Hallam
Lab
Responding Minister
Selby
Tags
ImmigrationEmployment
Word Count: 12973
Other Contributors: 17
At a Glance
Olivia Blake raised concerns about child poverty and no recourse to public funds in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should ensure that NRPF restrictions are addressed within the upcoming child poverty review and that data collection on children impacted by NRPF is improved to better understand and address their needs.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
According to the IPPR, there are an estimated 1.5 million children in poverty with migrant parents in the UK, accounting for more than a third of all children living in poverty. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found a 92% increase since 2019 in the number of migrant households experiencing destitution due to no recourse to public funds (NRPF) policy.
Anna Sabine
LD
Frome and East Somerset
The MP discusses the increase in child poverty under Conservative rule, citing specific policies that have contributed to more than half a million additional children living in poverty since 2015. She emphasizes the need for fairer support regardless of immigration status.
Agrees that no recourse to public funds leads to deep poverty and believes the Government should focus on helping those who face the highest risk of deep poverty.
Danny Kruger
Con
East Wiltshire
The hon. Member highlighted the complexity of migration and welfare, expressing concerns about the potential dynamic effects of abolishing NRPF status. He pointed out that high rates of migration put significant pressure on public services.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Poverty is a reality faced by too many children across Northern Ireland. In Strangford, a substantial number live in poverty with relative poverty rising from 18% to 24% between 2021 and 2023. Missing meals due to poverty leads to poor health outcomes and educational difficulties. Spoke about the scourge of child poverty across Northern Ireland and the impact on educational attainment due to food poverty.
Keir Mather
Lab
Selby
The hon. Member served as the Minister for the day, acknowledging the debate's importance and advocating for migrants' rights while maintaining a fair immigration system.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Child poverty in Liverpool is disheartening, especially for children living in families with no recourse to public funds. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that 1.5 million children in migrant families live in poverty. Will the Minister provide accurate and up-to-date data on how many British citizen children are affected by NRPF? Additionally, will he outline any analysis done on how many children are in poverty due to NRPF?
Kirsty Blackman
SNP
Aberdeen North
Describes the increase in people with NRPF status in Aberdeen, highlighting inconsistency in local authority support for those affected. The MP agrees with the need to address systemic issues causing child poverty and supports the idea that families should not rely on food banks for basic needs. Corrected the shadow Minister, stating there was mention of the pull factor but no evidence for it. She highlighted how restrictions on bringing dependants have decimated the social care sector in Aberdeen.
Maureen Burke
Lab
Glasgow North East
The MP highlights the impact of the no recourse to public funds regime on child poverty in Glasgow, noting that 7,772 children are growing up in poverty. She calls for redesignating child benefit and ensuring refugee and asylum-seeking children have access to basic support. Discussed delays in the asylum backlog and the challenges faced by families affected by hardship.
Made important points about the impact of child poverty in his constituency.
Patricia Ferguson
Raised issues regarding application processes for lifting conditions and language barriers that migrants face; supported points made by the MP from Sheffield Hallam.
Noted the adoption of the Atlas casework system, which will automate a large proportion of casework and could create new opportunities for data collection.
Neil Coyle
Lab
Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Asked for more transparency from the Home Office in collecting and publishing data on children affected by NRPF, as well as full participation in the child poverty review. London councils spend about £46 million on providing emergency support to families affected by the no recourse to public funds condition, which makes a mockery of the claim that the policy is truly about restricting access to public funds. Asked Kirsty Blackman about the SNP policy's focus on children under five, pointing to a previous Work and Pensions Committee figure of around 125,000 families with dependants affected by no recourse to public funds.
Glasgow West
Highlighted the issue of young people in migrant families being forced to act as interpreters for their parents and attend appointments instead of attending school, adding to inequality faced by these children. Asked Kirsty Blackman about the requirement for young people in Scotland applying for the Young Scot card to produce a British birth certificate.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Noted that delays in determining NRPF applications cause suffering for innocent children who should not be penalised and would contribute positively to the UK's future through tax payments and development. Agrees that addressing child poverty is a political choice and urges the Government to take immediate action.
Kirsty Blackman
Predicted a difference of view on NRPF, mentioned distressing cases of young people and children facing malnutrition and rickets; discussed the roll-out of free breakfast clubs in primary schools.
Neil Coyle
Asked about the Home Office's role in developing the child poverty taskforce.
Kim Johnson
Spoke with experience, expertise and passion on the plight of people in her constituency; discussed the need for bolder measures to tackle child poverty beyond breakfast clubs.
Government Response
Selby
Keir Mather
Government Response
The Government seeks to ensure that migrants can support themselves without unexpected pressures in the welfare system. Safeguards protect vulnerable migrants, including migrant children, with local authorities providing basic safety net support regardless of immigration status. Discussed ongoing work to review and adapt support given to disadvantaged migrant children, assured the gathering that efforts are being made towards data collection on NRPF scheme participants. Emphasised government commitment to eradicating malnutrition through initiatives such as free breakfast clubs in primary schools; highlighted £13 million allocated for food poverty charities. Addressed specific cases raised by MPs and promised to pass relevant information along to the correct Minister. Stated that while a child poverty taskforce is being developed, immediate actions include extending free school meals to half a million more children, lifting 100,000 out of poverty; supporting universal credit deductions for 700,000 families; minimum wage increase for 3 million workers; rolling out breakfast clubs and extending the household support fund.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.