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Number of UK children living in poverty unchanged, latest figures show Proportion of UK children living in poverty unchanged, figures show
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The number of children living in poverty remained at 2.3 million in 2014 but absolute poverty among households where a member has a disability has risen, official statistics show. The number of children living in poverty was 2.3 million in 2014 but absolute poverty among households where a member has a disability has risen, official statistics show.
New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show the percentage of children in relative and absolute poverty remained flat, although there was a statistically insignificant fall of 100,000 for both measures.New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show the percentage of children in relative and absolute poverty remained flat, although there was a statistically insignificant fall of 100,000 for both measures.
Among households in which at least one member has a disability, the number of individuals in absolute poverty rose by 300,000 to 5.6 million, while those in relative poverty remained at 4.1 million. Among households in which at least one member has a disability, the number of individuals in absolute poverty rose by 300,000 to 5.6 million, while those in relative poverty remained flat at 4.1 million.
Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, said the proportion of people with a low income is now at the lowest level since the mid-1980s. Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, said the proportion of people with a low income was now at the lowest level since the mid-1980s.
An analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the latest figures “show little or no change in poverty rates, for the population as a whole and for the major demographic groups (pensioners, working-age adults and children)“. An analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the latest figures “show little or no change in poverty rates, for the population as a whole and for the major demographic groups (pensioners, working-age adults and children)”.
However, Chris Leslie, the shadow chancellor, said the figures showed progress on child poverty had “slowed to a snail’s pace”.However, Chris Leslie, the shadow chancellor, said the figures showed progress on child poverty had “slowed to a snail’s pace”.
Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children’s Society, also pointed to “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 also been a steady rise over the last five years in the numbers of children living in in-work poverty, clearly showing that even those families with jobs are suffering because of government policies.”“There has also been a steady rise over the last five years in the numbers of children living in in-work poverty, clearly showing that even those families with jobs are suffering because of government policies.”
Forecasts from the IFS had suggested the number of children in relative poverty would rise for the first time in a decade to 2.5 million. Forecasts from the IFS had suggested the number of children in relative poverty would rise for the first time in a decade, to 2.5 million.
The fact that the figures do not show an increase in child poverty will make it easier for the government to change the way it is measured without being accused of trying to cover up a negative trend.The fact that the figures do not show an increase in child poverty will make it easier for the government to change the way it is measured without being accused of trying to cover up a negative trend.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Duncan Smith confirmed that he wanted to change the measure to take “life chances” into account and to incentivise policymakers to tackle the root causes of policy. Speaking in the House of Commons, Duncan Smith confirmed that he wanted to change the measure to take “life chances” into account and to incentivise policymakers to tackle the root causes of poverty.
David Cameron has called the current measure “absurd”, and the cabinet was briefed this week on the potential to change it – something that was promised in the Conservative party manifesto.David Cameron has called the current measure “absurd”, and the cabinet was briefed this week on the potential to change it – something that was promised in the Conservative party manifesto.
The current definition of child poverty is whether a child lives in a household with an income less than 60% of the national average, meaning it can actually go down when average incomes are lower in a recession. The current definition of child poverty is that a child lives in a household with an income less than 60% of the national average, meaning the number can go down when average incomes are lower in a recession.
The median real terms household income before housing costs was stable at £453 per week, as was the average household income after housing costs at £386 per week. The median real-terms household income before housing costs was stable at £453 per week, as was the average household income after housing costs at £386 per week.
The TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: “Despite the headline employment rate returning to its pre-recession level, absolute poverty rates are still higher. Our economy is not creating enough good quality jobs to achieve the larger falls in poverty we need to give every worker a decent life and every child a decent future.The TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: “Despite the headline employment rate returning to its pre-recession level, absolute poverty rates are still higher. Our economy is not creating enough good quality jobs to achieve the larger falls in poverty we need to give every worker a decent life and every child a decent future.
“The extreme cuts to tax credits the government is planning for working families will do nothing to raise wages and will leave low-paid families even worse off. There’s a big danger this will start poverty rates rising again.”“The extreme cuts to tax credits the government is planning for working families will do nothing to raise wages and will leave low-paid families even worse off. There’s a big danger this will start poverty rates rising again.”
David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said: “Councils are working hard to help tackle child poverty through their successful economic development strategies and by directly working with families in difficulty.David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said: “Councils are working hard to help tackle child poverty through their successful economic development strategies and by directly working with families in difficulty.
“Regardless of how statistics are compiled, we recognise that there are parts of the UK where there is much more to be done to raise children out of poverty and councils are playing an extremely active role because their detailed knowledge of their local community means they are best placed to lead the way.”“Regardless of how statistics are compiled, we recognise that there are parts of the UK where there is much more to be done to raise children out of poverty and councils are playing an extremely active role because their detailed knowledge of their local community means they are best placed to lead the way.”