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Children in poverty up by 100,000

By Faisal Islam

Updated on 27 March 2007

The number of children living in relative poverty in the UK rose by 100,000 last year - the first increase in nearly a decade.

But the number of people living in absolute poverty has increased by 300,000

Campaigners say it is a "moral disgrace" that leaves the Government's policy objectives "in tatters".


'Gordon Brown's approach of simply throwing money at the problem has failed'
Shadow chancellor George Osborne

Official statistics showed that 2.8 million children were living below the relative poverty line in 2005/06, with the figure rising to 3.8 million after housing costs were factored in.

This represents an increase from 2.7 million and 3.6 million respectively on the previous year, prompting concern that the Government is on course to miss its target of halving child poverty by 2010.

The Department for Work and Pensions said it was refocusing £150m in resources in a package which would "redouble efforts to reduce child poverty".

A spokesman for the department said a child poverty strategy document published today would build on the reform to the tax credit system, announced in last week's Budget, which aims to lift a further 200,000 children out of poverty.

The DWP is planning to increase its family-focused employment programme through a series of measures including opening up schemes to help lone parents into work to all families, he said.

"We will be piloting a new deal for families in which all families will get access to supports that often only apply to lone parents," the spokesman said.

UK's poverty figures

  • Since the benchmark year of 1998/99, 600,000 children have been lifted out of relative poverty - defined as households on less than 60% of average income.


  • But to adhere to an expressed goal of halving child poverty by 2010, ministers will now have to help an additional 1.1 million children above the relative poverty line by the end of the decade, with the figure rising to 1.6 million after housing costs.


  • Official statistics showed the number of children living below the poverty threshold rose for the first time in almost a decade in 2005/06, up to 2.8 million from 2.7 million.
  • Save the Children

    Colette Marshall, UK director of Save the Children, said: "The child poverty target, supposedly one of the Government's chief priorities, is now in serious jeopardy.

    "If the Government is genuinely committed to the target of halving child poverty by 2010 then urgent action and investment is needed, not just the piecemeal measures that have been announced so far."

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