Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Paragraph: 89
The pandemic has brought into sharp relief the delay in publishing poverty data through DWP’s...
Conclusion
The pandemic has brought into sharp relief the delay in publishing poverty data through DWP’s ‘Households Below Average Income’ statistics. DWP and HMRC have a wealth of administrative data on benefits, tax and earnings. DWP can make better use of these to produce ‘closer to real-time’ information on child income poverty to support its strategy. This ‘lead’ data would supplement the data gathered through household surveys. Its publication will help DWP to account for its performance in addressing child poverty.
Paragraph Reference:
89
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Tackling poverty, especially child poverty, is a cross-government priority. DWP is one of several producers of statistical publications on social deprivations and poverty. Other departments including DfE, DHSC and the ONS have responsibility in this space as tackling poverty requires cross-government effort. The Government liaises with various organisations and other countries to draw on the latest available evidence. The ONS are leading on the development of an interactive tool where users can explore the complex landscape of income and earnings statistics in one location.