Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Paragraph: 83
Past income-based targets for child poverty have helped to focus minds across Government.
Recommendation
Past income-based targets for child poverty have helped to focus minds across Government. But, like all targets, they can ‘distort’ the policy response, and some witnesses believed that this happened in the final years of the 2010/11 child poverty target as the emphasis shifted towards income transfers. To counter this risk, it is important to have a broad set of targets covering income and other policy measures. The Government must also be committed to reducing child poverty, with a clear strategy which is supported by measurable objectives and strong delivery plans.
Paragraph Reference:
83
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The Government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to tackling poverty and reports progress to Parliament in several ways. As set out in the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016, the Government publishes key measures of child poverty annually in line with its statutory responsibilities. In addition, we update Parliament via our annual report and Ministers are held to account on a regular basis at Oral questions and by the WPSC. As our economic recovery progresses our focus is on helping people get back into and to progress in work, based on clear evidence that work, particularly full-time work, is the most effective way of tackling poverty. The £500 million expansion of the Plan for Jobs will ensure that people across the country continue to be supported to do so. DWP’s Secretary of State continues to lead wider cross-Government action on tackling poverty and the cost of living.