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| Severe child poverty 'going up' | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The number of UK children living in "severe poverty" rose in the four years before the recession, research from a children's charity suggests. | |
| Save the Children says the number of children in homes in this category rose 260,000 to 1.7m from 2004 to 2008. | Save the Children says the number of children in homes in this category rose 260,000 to 1.7m from 2004 to 2008. |
| The report warns there is a danger that severe poverty could rise even further. | The report warns there is a danger that severe poverty could rise even further. |
| The government says it has lifted half a million children out of relative poverty, and helped the very poorest, as defined by its own criteria. | The government says it has lifted half a million children out of relative poverty, and helped the very poorest, as defined by its own criteria. |
| It has pledged to halve child poverty by 2010 from the 1998/99 figure of 3.4 million and end it altogether by 2020. | It has pledged to halve child poverty by 2010 from the 1998/99 figure of 3.4 million and end it altogether by 2020. |
| 'Shocking' | 'Shocking' |
| The government defines relative low-income poverty as less than 60% of contemporary household median income, and absolute low-income poverty as less than 60% of 1998/99 median household income. | The government defines relative low-income poverty as less than 60% of contemporary household median income, and absolute low-income poverty as less than 60% of 1998/99 median household income. |
| However, Save the Children defines severe poverty as those living in households with incomes of less than 50% of the UK median income (disregarding housing costs) and who were also missing some basic possessions, such as a winter coat. | However, Save the Children defines severe poverty as those living in households with incomes of less than 50% of the UK median income (disregarding housing costs) and who were also missing some basic possessions, such as a winter coat. |
| The charity used this method to try to analyse if help was reaching the very poorest families. | The charity used this method to try to analyse if help was reaching the very poorest families. |
| We're talking about children going without a winter coat, a bed and other day-to-day essentials Fergus Drake Save the Children | We're talking about children going without a winter coat, a bed and other day-to-day essentials Fergus Drake Save the Children |
| Save the Children calculated there were 1.46 million children in what they call severe poverty in 2004-05. Four years later the number had risen to 1.7 million. | Save the Children calculated there were 1.46 million children in what they call severe poverty in 2004-05. Four years later the number had risen to 1.7 million. |
| The charity claims that at the end of 2008, 13% of the UK's children were living in severe poverty, up two percentage points on 2004 - and that not only have efforts to reduce child poverty stalled, they have gone into reverse. | The charity claims that at the end of 2008, 13% of the UK's children were living in severe poverty, up two percentage points on 2004 - and that not only have efforts to reduce child poverty stalled, they have gone into reverse. |
| The report predicts the recession is likely to have increased severe poverty by a further 100,000 children, but that benefit payments and tax credits would have brought numbers back down to pre-recession figures. | The report predicts the recession is likely to have increased severe poverty by a further 100,000 children, but that benefit payments and tax credits would have brought numbers back down to pre-recession figures. |
| The charity's director of UK programmes Fergus Drake said: "It's shocking that at a time when the UK was experiencing unprecedented levels of wealth the number of children living in severe poverty - we're talking about children going without a winter coat, a bed and other day-to-day essentials - actually increased." | The charity's director of UK programmes Fergus Drake said: "It's shocking that at a time when the UK was experiencing unprecedented levels of wealth the number of children living in severe poverty - we're talking about children going without a winter coat, a bed and other day-to-day essentials - actually increased." |
| The story varies across the UK. In Northern Ireland, 8% of children are extremely poor. In Scotland it is 9% while in England and Wales it is 13% - a figure pushed up by the situation in London where 19% of youngsters live in severe poverty. | The story varies across the UK. In Northern Ireland, 8% of children are extremely poor. In Scotland it is 9% while in England and Wales it is 13% - a figure pushed up by the situation in London where 19% of youngsters live in severe poverty. |
| 'More to do' | 'More to do' |
| Work and pensions minister Helen Goodman said: "Families with children in the poorest fifth of the population are, on average, £5,000 better off as a result of personal tax and benefit changes. | Work and pensions minister Helen Goodman said: "Families with children in the poorest fifth of the population are, on average, £5,000 better off as a result of personal tax and benefit changes. |
| "Without measures such as tax credits, employment help and the Sure Start programme, it is likely around 2 million more children would still be in poverty today. | "Without measures such as tax credits, employment help and the Sure Start programme, it is likely around 2 million more children would still be in poverty today. |
| "Significant investment made since the Budget of 2007 will lift a further 550,000 children out of poverty and we are helping to get parents into work by providing free childcare for three and four year olds. | "Significant investment made since the Budget of 2007 will lift a further 550,000 children out of poverty and we are helping to get parents into work by providing free childcare for three and four year olds. |
| "But there is still much more to do. We are determined to meet our ambitious goals and help break the cycle of deprivation - which is why we will enshrine in law our commitment to end child poverty by 2020." | "But there is still much more to do. We are determined to meet our ambitious goals and help break the cycle of deprivation - which is why we will enshrine in law our commitment to end child poverty by 2020." |