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FAQs

FAQs

What is the Government’s pledge on child poverty? 

In 1999, the new Labour Government said that it would aim to reduce child poverty by a quarter from 1998-99 to 2004-5, halve it by 2010-11 and eradicate it by 2020.

How does the Government measure child poverty?

The Government’s principle measure of child poverty is the number of children living in households where income is 60% of the median, before housing costs are taken into account (although it originally chose to measure it after housing costs).

Did the Government meet the 2004-2005 target?

The government missed its first child poverty target of reducing child poverty by a quarter between 1998/99 and 2004/05.

Will the Government meet its 2010 target?

To meet the target child poverty needs to fall to 1.7 million by 2010/11. In 2006/07 2.9 million children were poor. The 2010 target is achieveable with financial investments but there is a large gap between the likely effects of what has been done to date and target. 

In October 2007, to demonstrate that commitment, the government set up a cross-departmental Child Poverty Unit, based in the Department for Children, Schools and Families. This unit is expected to drive its child poverty agenda.

What measures are needed?

The Child Poverty Action Group and other members of the End Child Poverty Coalition are calling on the Government to spend an extra £3bn in benefits and child tax credits to help meet the 2010 target.  To make progress toward eradicating child poverty, a mix of measures will be needed around access to employment and the returns from work; financial support for families (especially where work is not an option) and an increased focus on child outcomes such as narrowing the education inequality gap.