Child poverty will end by 2020
Child poverty will be eradicated by 2020, according to Child Poverty Bill
The Child Poverty Bill passed its third reading in the House of Lords yesterday, meaning it is all but guaranteed to pass into law before the General Election. The bill makes it a legal requirement for the UK government to eradicate child poverty by 2020.
The measures have attracted cross-party support and the bill's progress means that no matter what the result of the forthcoming General Election, the UK Government will be legally bound to lift children in the UK out of impoverishment.
Once the measures become law it will be the Home Secretary's responsibility to ensure that by 2020:
- over 90% of the UK's children live in households whose income is greater than £15,000
- over 95% of the UK's children live in households whose income is greater than £17,000 once specific factors of depravation have been taken into account
Poverty Action Group told Sideway News: "[We are] delighted to see this bill made law. Passing the legislation does not mean the problem of child poverty is solved, but for the first time there will be a robust framework requiring whoever is in government after the election to develop a comprehensive strategy and take action."
Household income figures are based upon 2004 benchmarks.
Comments
This government loves apologising for things which it wasn't responsible for in the past , recently children expatriated to Australia ,slavery,crusades. etc .It also then tries to exert control over things it wont be responsible for in the future .But about the things they actually are responsible for NOW eg leaving a vast national debt for our children to pay off there is a silence. They cannot hold a future government to anything because they do not know what the future holds . Why do we have to put up with this sort of thing ?