1. National Conference about Child Poverty,
Professor Ruth Lister: Child poverty and the fight against it: a British perspective in the European context
National Conference about Child Poverty,
24-25 April 2008
Miskolc, Hungary

2. Key message: The British experience suggests that with:
a clear, well-publicised government target;
good annual monitoring data; &
a strong anti-poverty civil society coalition
it is possible to make a real difference in reducing shockingly high levels of child poverty.

3. Outline of presentation
European context;
The political challenge which faced the new Labour government;
The pledge to eradicate child poverty & the governance mechanisms put in place;
The policy mechanisms;
Progress made;
Where we are now following the 2008 Budget;
Conclusion.

4. The European context (1)
Child poverty has high priority on the EU social inclusion agenda.
‘The need for a continuing priority to be given to this issue over several years if a decisive impact is to be made on eradicating child poverty and social exclusion among children’
(Hugh Frazer & Eric Marlier, Tackling child poverty & promoting the social inclusion of children in the EU, Synthesis Report, European Commission, 2007).

5. The European context (2)
The importance of:
clear policy objectives;
comprehensive strategies incorporating policies at national, regional & local level;
quantified targets;
effective monitoring mechanisms
the involvement of stakeholders, particularly NGOs.
(Frazer & Marlier).

6. The European context (3)
‘The evidence from those countries with the lowest levels of poverty and social exclusion is that the most effective approach over time involves developing effective policies for all children backed up by more specific policies targeted at children at high risk who face particular difficulties (such as Roma children, children living in institutions or children at risk of violence and abuse)’ (Frazer & Marlier).

7. The political challenge
Dramatic rise in child poverty : % of children in poverty rose from 1 in 10 to 1 in 3.
Tony Blair’s pledge to eradicate child poverty in 1999: ‘our historic aim will be for ours to be the first generation to end child poverty, and it will take a generation. It is a 20-year mission but I believe it can be done’.

8. The governance mechanisms(1)
Key role played by Gordon Brown, then Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Milestone targets: to reduce the numbers of children in poverty by a quarter by & by a half by
Measures:
‘absolute’ low income (60% median income held constant);
‘relative’ low income (contemporary 60% median income);
combined material deprivation/low income: the number of children in households that are materially deprived [as measured by a number of indicators] & have an income below 70% of contemporary median income.

9. The governance mechanisms(2)
Publication of annual statistics: ‘transparent and comprehensive approach’; ‘an essential feature’ of the strategy (EC Social Protection Committee, 2008).
Annual Opportunity for All monitoring report: a wider range of multi-dimensional indicators + irregular reports.
Public Service Agreements to meet targets.
Department of Children, Schools & Families and Child Poverty Unit created in 2007.
Partnership with the third sector/civil society organisations: ‘stakeholders’. End Child Poverty coalition of >100 members.

10. The policy framework (1)
Incomes
‘Reform of the provision of financial support for families has been a key driver behind the fall to date’ in the number of children in poverty. If government had ‘done nothing other than simply uprate the 1997 tax & benefit system child poverty might be 1.7 million children higher than today’ (HM Treasury, 2007 & 2008).
Principles:
‘Progressive universalism’: ‘help for all, and extra help for those who need it most’.
‘Work for those who can, security (or support) for those who cannot’.

11. The policy framework (2)
Welfare to work policies:
moving people into paid work.;
national child care strategy;
making work pay: national minimum wage & tax credits.
Lower priority given to ‘security for those who cannot work’ but significant real improvements in financial support for young children.

12. The policy framework (3)
Deprivation in communities
Physical & economic regeneration, tackling crime, community involvement & ‘support for all communities to develop family-friendly environments, particularly safe spaces to socialise, exercise and play’, with new investment in ‘safe & fun play opportunities’.
Children’s life chances
Critical to longer-term goal of eradicating child poverty by 2020.
Early years provision: Sure Start Children’s Centres. As well as childcare, they ‘bring together early education, health, family support & employment support for young families’; ‘one-stop central hubs for children under the age of 5 and their families’.

13. The policy framework (4)
Education:
Limited entitlement to free nursery education for 3 & 4 year olds.
Goal of ‘narrowing the gap in educational achievement between children from lower income & disadvantaged backgrounds & their peers’.

14. Progress made so far
The bad news: missed first interim target & looks set to miss 2010 target + small increase in the numbers of children in poverty between 2004/05 & 2005/06.
The good news:
a reduction of 600,000 children in relative income poverty – from 26% of all children in 1998/99 to 22% in 2005/06 (using before housing costs measure).
A fall of 100,000 between 2004/05 & 2005/06 using the combined indicator of material deprivation & relative low income.
Particular progress among some of the highest risk groups: children in lone parent families, large families, families with a child under 5 or a disabled child – although they - & minority ethnic children - remain at above average risk.

15. Where are we now?
Following considerable lobbying the 2008 Budget announced an additional £950m for tackling child poverty.
Estimated this will lift a further ¼ of a million children out of poverty by 2010 and, taken with measures announced previously, a total of a further ½ million.
Reiteration of government commitment to the child poverty targets. Ending Child Poverty: everybody’s business (2008): ‘despite the scale of the challenge, our commitment to tackling child poverty is stronger than ever’.
A new ‘contract out of poverty’ between government, individual families & the wider society: ‘a pledge that all parts of society will do their bit to tackle this blight on children, communities and future prosperity’.

16. Conclusion Key features which have contributed to this success:
Political commitment and accountability.
Detailed policy measures explicitly linked to expected outcomes.
Highly monitored strategy based on indicators, targets, longitudinal data, systematic evaluation & evidence-based policies.
Significant involvement of stakeholders
(EC Social Protection Committee, 2008).
‘The task of tackling child poverty faces the challenge of low public awareness of the existence and meaning of child poverty in the UK’
(HM Treasury, Ending Child Poverty: everybody’s business, 2008).