465,000 Merseyside children may be living in poverty by 2010

Mar 3 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

UP TO 465,000 children will be living in poverty in the region at the end of the decade without drastic action to rescue a failing government pledge to help them, a hard-hitting report warns today.

The study by MPs urges Chancellor Alistair Darling to dramatically step up efforts to get poor parents into work, provide affordable childcare and boost benefits in order to halve child poverty by 2010, as promised.

Otherwise, it warns, the flagship pledge – made by Tony Blair in 1999 – will be missed by close to one million children, leaving up to 2.7m living below the breadline.

Crucially, it accuses ministers of using the wrong child poverty measure, by excluding housing costs. Taking housing into account, the target will be missed by close to 1.6m children.

That would leave around 465,000 below the breadline in the North-West, or a staggering 31% of youngsters – worse than the English average of 29%.

The work and pensions select committee concludes: “We are convinced by evidence of the damaging effect of poverty on children and the fact that poor children are more likely to experience social exclusion and poorer educational outcomes.

“We believe the 2010 target could be met, but only if further investment is forthcoming. The Government should be at the most expensive stage of its child poverty strategy.”

The report is released as Mr Darling holds urgent talks with Cabinet colleagues to find ways to use his March 12 Budget to boost help for poor parents – despite the grim state of the Government’s finances.

Under Mr Blair’s historic pledge, the 2010 target to halve child poverty is meant to be a halfway house to abolishing it altogether by 2020.

But the total in poverty actually rose by 100,000 at the last count. Poverty experts calculate at least £3.8bn is needed to meet the 2010 benchmark – at a time when public spending is slowing.

Child poverty – defined as living on less than 60% of median income – soared during the Conservative years in government, which had the worst record of any Western nation.

The committee heard evidence of how poor children went without everyday items – toys, games, trips and appropriate clothing – and how friendships and self-esteem suffered.

Among its recommendations are:

An “impact on child poverty test”, to be applied to every tax and benefit change.

Parents below the poverty line to be eligible for free school meals and free travel, even if they are in work.

More affordable childcare and measures to ensure it is taken up by low-income families.

Research into why Jobcentre Plus advisors direct women – the majority of lone parents – into low-paid jobs.

Efforts to prevent the “churn” of parents in and out of work, which “may be more damaging for children than continuous unemployment”.

Higher benefits for those unable to work, amid evidence that one in five families with disabled children cut back on food.

Kate Green, of child poverty action group, said: “The report leaves no doubt that the promise to halve child poverty by 2010 can be met, but it requires bold action in next week’s Budget.”