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Child poverty figures fall by 2% Child poverty down as household income drops
(about 1 hour later)
The number of children living in poverty in the UK fell by 300,000 last year, official figures have revealed. The number of children living in poverty in the UK fell by 300,000 last year as household incomes dropped, official figures have revealed.
In 2010-11, 18% of children (2.3 million) lived in households classed as below the poverty line, a 2% decrease on the previous year. In 2010-11, 18% of children (2.3 million) lived in households classed as below the poverty line - a 2% drop.
The measure is based on median incomes - which also went down. This was because the measure is based on median incomes which also went down.
The government says drug addiction, homelessness and unemployment should be considered as well as income when defining child poverty. The Children's Society welcomed "the lowest poverty level since the mid-1980s" but said that may be reversed by "drastic cuts to support and services".
The government's Households Below Average Income statistics define child poverty as children living in homes with 60% less than the median UK income. The median is the middle figure in a set of numbers. Ministers, meanwhile, say drug addiction, homelessness and unemployment should be considered as well as income when defining child poverty.
The level of household income which defines "in poverty" fell from £259 a week, in 2009-2010, to £251 the following year. UK income drop
The BBC's Mark Easton said that drop explained why 300,000 fewer children were classed as living in poverty. The government's Households Below Average Income statistics define child poverty as children living in homes with 60% less than the median UK income.
The median - the middle figure in a set of numbers - for 2010-2011 was £419 a week, down from £432 the year before.
As a result, the level of household income which defines "in poverty" fell from £259, in 2009-2010, to £251 a week, the following year.
The BBC's Mark Easton said that explained why 300,000 fewer children were classed as living in poverty.
After housing costs were taken into consideration, the number of children living in relative poverty was 3.6 million (27%) - down 2% on the previous year.After housing costs were taken into consideration, the number of children living in relative poverty was 3.6 million (27%) - down 2% on the previous year.
The Children's Society said that, while action since 2000 had "pulled 1.1 million children out of poverty", current levels were still "a scar on our national conscience".
"It is shameful that over the coming decade this progress is likely to be reversed by the government's drastic cuts to support and services for the country's most vulnerable children and families," chief executive Matthew Reed said.
He said it was vital the government focused on providing families with "material resources critical for securing a decent standard of living and puts its commitment to end child poverty by 2020 back into action".
'Benefits trap'
The government, meanwhile, believes the current measure of poverty is too narrow and can be perverse because, if average incomes fall, the poverty line falls too.The government, meanwhile, believes the current measure of poverty is too narrow and can be perverse because, if average incomes fall, the poverty line falls too.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that while income would "always play a part in future measurements of poverty", focusing on money alone resulted in people becoming trapped on benefits.Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that while income would "always play a part in future measurements of poverty", focusing on money alone resulted in people becoming trapped on benefits.
In a speech later, Mr Duncan Smith will cite the example of drug-addicted parents who may be technically taken out of poverty by an extra pound but spend that money on another drug fix.In a speech later, Mr Duncan Smith will cite the example of drug-addicted parents who may be technically taken out of poverty by an extra pound but spend that money on another drug fix.
"Unless we find a way of properly measuring changes to children's life chances, rather than the present measurement of income alone, we risk repeating the failures of the past," he will say."Unless we find a way of properly measuring changes to children's life chances, rather than the present measurement of income alone, we risk repeating the failures of the past," he will say.
Do you consider yourself or your family to be living in poverty? Do you think the definition of child poverty needs to change? If you are willing to be interviewed by the BBC please fill in the form below.Do you consider yourself or your family to be living in poverty? Do you think the definition of child poverty needs to change? If you are willing to be interviewed by the BBC please fill in the form below.