1. The UK Child Poverty Target Natalie Branosky The Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion

2. The Child Poverty Target “Our historic aim will be for ours to be the first generation to end child poverty forever, and it will take a generation. It is a twenty-year mission, but I believe it can be done.” --Prime Minister Tony Blair, March 1999

3. The UK Child Poverty Target Relative income poverty measure – households below 60% of median income 2.8 million children in relative income poverty in UK in 2005-06 before housing costs 3.8 million children in poverty in UK in 2005-06 after housing costs (30%) What is the poverty line? Couple, 2 children aged 5 and 14£301 Single, 2 children aged 5 and 14£223

4. How are we doing? 700,000 children lifted out of poverty since 1998-99… …but first target to reduce child poverty by a quarter by 2004-05 not met (but have achieved 17%) not on track to meet the target for 2010 (need to get to 1.7 million)

5. What is the strategy? National policy measures: Investment in family incomes (tax credits, child benefit) Increasing parental employment (WtoW, childcare, rights at work) Improving earnings from employment (NMW, skills agenda) Child support But more investment needed… …and a more “localised” approach

6. Who is in poverty?

7. Child poverty rates (absolute)

8. The Politics of Poverty “Child poverty is the scar that demeans Britain.” --Prime Minister Gordon Brown, March 2008 “We can end poverty – I mean it.” --David Cameron, Tory Leader, May 2008 “It isn’t good enough when the very number of days you will spend on this planet are determined by the place and circumstances of your birth.” --Nick Clegg, Liberal Dem Leader, May 2008