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The number of children living in poverty is set to rise to 4.7 million over the next five years, an unacceptable figure according to the Government’s own watchdog on children’s rights.
A new report by the Children’s Commissioners for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which is being submitted to the UN, is in stark contrast to a report by the government's Department for Work and Pensions last week which claimed child poverty was as its lowest level since the 1980s.
Child poverty is singled out by the report as “one of the most critical concerns for children’s rights, requiring urgent attention from the UK”.
- Child poverty is defined as living in a home where the income is less than 60 per cent of the national average.
But Britain’s austerity drive and welfare reforms have “resulted in a failure to protect the most disadvantaged children, and those in especially vulnerable groups, from child poverty, preventing the realisation of their rights,” it says.
The report comes ahead of next week’s Budget in which Chancellor George Osborne (pictured) is expected to outline plans for another £12bn in welfare cuts.
“Children and their families should be protected from welfare cuts,” says the report. But government policies “have led to food and fuel poverty, and the sharply increased use of crisis food bank provision by families”.
It is deeply disturbing that the UK Government, aware of the current and future impact of its cuts, appears to be targeting the most vulnerable people in our society. This is a policy of choice and it is a disgrace... It is avoidable and unacceptable.
- Tam Baillie, Scotland’s commissioner for children and young people
Our reforms to the welfare system are focused on making work pay and our reforms to the tax system are allowing people to keep more of what they earn.
- Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson
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