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UK has 2.3m children living in poverty, government says UK has 2.3m children living in poverty, government says
(about 2 hours later)
The number of children living in relative poverty in the UK remains 2.3 million, government figures show. The number of children living in relative poverty in the UK remains 2.3 million, government figures suggest.
Department for Work and Pensions figures show the proportion of children living in poverty - almost one in six - was unchanged from 2011-12 to 2013-14. The Department for Work and Pensions annual estimate shows the proportion of children living in poverty - almost one in six - was unchanged from 2011-12 to 2013-14.
Charities said proposed welfare changes would leave families worse off.Charities said proposed welfare changes would leave families worse off.
But Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said UK poverty levels were the "lowest since the mid-1980s".But Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said UK poverty levels were the "lowest since the mid-1980s".
A child is defined as being in poverty when living in a household with an income below 60% of the UK's average.A child is defined as being in poverty when living in a household with an income below 60% of the UK's average.
Average household income in 2013-14 was £453 a week - making the poverty line £272 a week.Average household income in 2013-14 was £453 a week - making the poverty line £272 a week.
Mr Duncan Smith added that government reforms of the welfare system were focused on "making work pay" and getting people into employment.Mr Duncan Smith added that government reforms of the welfare system were focused on "making work pay" and getting people into employment.
'Deeply concerning''Deeply concerning'
He told the Commons he remained "committed" to dealing with the "root causes" of poverty, saying employment was up by more than two million since 2010.He told the Commons he remained "committed" to dealing with the "root causes" of poverty, saying employment was up by more than two million since 2010.
But shadow chancellor Chris Leslie accused the government of failing to make progress in cutting child poverty and raising incomes. Shadow chancellor Chris Leslie accused the government of failing to make progress in cutting child poverty and raising incomes.
The latest poverty figures represented a "depressing slow-down in the progress we should be making as a country", he said.The latest poverty figures represented a "depressing slow-down in the progress we should be making as a country", he said.
Javed Khan, chief executive of children's charity Barnardo's, said every child living in poverty was a child that was being "let down".Javed Khan, chief executive of children's charity Barnardo's, said every child living in poverty was a child that was being "let down".
He said: "Government plans to cut struggling families' incomes further by changing tax credits is deeply concerning.He said: "Government plans to cut struggling families' incomes further by changing tax credits is deeply concerning.
"So that every child gets the chances in life every child deserves, this government must ensure that change to the benefits system makes work pay for those on low incomes, and doesn't force families further into poverty.""So that every child gets the chances in life every child deserves, this government must ensure that change to the benefits system makes work pay for those on low incomes, and doesn't force families further into poverty."
Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children's Society, said it was "a scandal that there are 200,000 more children who have been pushed deeper into poverty over the past year".Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children's Society, said it was "a scandal that there are 200,000 more children who have been pushed deeper into poverty over the past year".
There has been a "steady rise" over the last five years in the numbers of children living in poverty in households where parents work, he added.There has been a "steady rise" over the last five years in the numbers of children living in poverty in households where parents work, he added.
Meanwhile, Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said the figures made "grim reading", adding: "Make no mistake, we are facing a child poverty crisis in the years ahead and the government is not going to meet the child poverty targets."Meanwhile, Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said the figures made "grim reading", adding: "Make no mistake, we are facing a child poverty crisis in the years ahead and the government is not going to meet the child poverty targets."
It comes as the government has said it wants to change the way child poverty is measured - as it believes the current measurement is inadequate.It comes as the government has said it wants to change the way child poverty is measured - as it believes the current measurement is inadequate.
The latest figures also showed that 9.6 million people - about 15% - were on relative low incomes in 2013-14. Jonathan Cribb, from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the child poverty figures appeared to have remained stable despite government cuts to working age benefits because of the overall rise in employment.
The figure represented a fall of 100,000 on the previous year - and is down from 11.2 million in 1998/99 when comparable records began. "That seems to have off-set the impact of cuts to working age benefits which will have suppressed incomes," he said.
It found the average real terms household income - before housing costs - remained unchanged from 2012/13, at £453 a week. The DWP figures have mostly been estimated from a survey of 20,000 households in UK.
The data for 2013-14 includes figures suggesting the number of children living in relative poverty before housing costs were taken into account was 100,000 lower than the previous year. However, the DWP said it was "not trumpeting" the finding as the polling was subject to a margin of error.
The figures also showed that 9.6 million people - about 15% - were on relative low incomes in 2013-14.
The figure represented a fall of 100,000 on the previous year - and is down from 11.2 million in 1998-99 when comparable records began.
It found the average real terms household income - before housing costs - remained unchanged from 2012-13, at £453 a week.
The number of pensioners also living in poverty increased by 100,000, the DWP said.The number of pensioners also living in poverty increased by 100,000, the DWP said.
Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age - the older people's charity - said pensioner poverty remains a "significant and widespread problem" in the UK.Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age - the older people's charity - said pensioner poverty remains a "significant and widespread problem" in the UK.
For many the reality was not "foreign holidays, but finding the cheapest food and managing to keep the heating on in winter", she said.For many the reality was not "foreign holidays, but finding the cheapest food and managing to keep the heating on in winter", she said.
Are you living in relative poverty? Are you raising a family? If you are affected by the issues raised in the story, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you living in relative poverty? Are you raising a family? If you are affected by the issues raised in the story, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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