Child Poverty Act 2010

---

Main benefits

To provide a clear definition of the eradication of child poverty by 2020, setting four challenging UK-wide targets based on the proportion of children living in: relative low income, combined income and material deprivation, absolute low income and persistent poverty. It also requires that these targets continue to be met after 2020.

Main elements

• The government has announced its intention to enshrine into law its pledge to eradicate child poverty by 2020.
  

• The Queen's Speech announced the government's aim to end child poverty within a generation, by tackling the causes and the consequences of poverty.
  

• Labour claimed that the fact that some children living in this country still lacked basic living standards was "unacceptable".
  

• They stated that ending child poverty was the responsibility of all, and one of the biggest challenges facing the country.
  

• Labour has already taken some steps to reverse poverty levels, with 600,000 children lifted out of relative income poverty since 1998-99.
  

• But the Child Poverty Bill intends to create a "new impetus" to deliver the government's commitment.
  

• The legislation is intended to work across all government departments to find a long term solution to child poverty.
  
  

Dods commentary

The government has announced that it will continue with the Child Poverty Bill that was introduced to the House of Commons in June 2009 following a consultation in January of that year entitled 'Every Child Matters'. The Bill has completed its public bill committee stage and is currently awaiting a date to report to the House of Commons.

The Bill will enshrine into legislation the commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020. It defines success in eradicating child poverty and establishes an accountability framework to drive progress towards the 2020 goal at a national and local level.

The government believes that child poverty is "unacceptable" and it is "committed to shaping a fairer society that will benefit everybody". A Child Poverty Unit was set up in 2008 to help take forward the government's work to eradicate child poverty.

The Bill received its second reading on July 20 2009, where both Conservative and Liberal Democrat shadow ministers expressed their initial support but outlined concerns regarding the Bill.

Theresa May, shadow work secretary, stated that the targets set in the Bill were unrealistic.

"The Bill ties a future government to the targets that the current government have failed to achieve".

Although she supported greater responsibility on local authorities to deal with child poverty she commented "it is not good enough simply to place more obligations on local authorities without them having the resources to act".

She also expressed concern about the creation of the commission on child poverty, adding "we must avoid its becoming another ineffective quango whose purpose is long forgotten."

Steve Webb, Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman, supported the Bill but challenged the target of having less than 10 per cent of children in poverty "the common understanding among the public of 'abolishing' child poverty would not be that 1 million children are left in poverty."

With regards to the creation of the commission he commented that "there has been a spurious suggestion that there will be a vast, sprawling quango that will rob the public purse of money. In fact, the estimated cost of this new body is £20,000 for a dozen people to come together four times a year to discuss the issue, with two civil servants working on it. In the context of one of the biggest social problems of our age, that is a tiny amount of money."

Children's charities welcomed the publication of the Bill but were swift to issue provisos.

Commenting on the introduction of the Bill in June 2009, Kate Green, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group said: "The bill is a major step in the fight to end Britain's child poverty shame. It will mean government action on child poverty is no longer optional and will drive forward progress.

"The UK has much higher levels of child poverty than most other wealthy countries and that is clearly wrong. We must stop so many of our children growing up with worse health, poor life chances and a lower life expectancy.

"We will not end child poverty until we end the culture of inequality that has blighted Britain for the last 30 years. That means more than just helping parents into work, it means fair pay, fair taxes, affordable childcare, decent homes and a minimum income for those who can’t work that doesn't leave them in severe poverty."

Anne Longfield OBE, chief executive of children's charity 4Children said:

"4Children welcomes the publication of the Child Poverty Bill as landmark legislation to put the needs of the most vulnerable at the heart of our society’s concerns. In a wealthy country such as ours it is unacceptable that so many children should continue to live their lives in poverty with the limitations on all aspects of life chances that this brings. This legislation provides the framework for a concerted effort locally and nationally to make the reduction of poverty a real priority with the potential to make a significant impact.

"But the legislation will only be as effective as the commitment and activity behind it. 4Children would like to see robust poverty reduction strategies in every area bringing together help and support for families to work and train with community regeneration and comprehensive support and opportunities for children – in the early years and beyond. A combined and concerted focus in this way is crucial if the blight of poverty is to be overcome."

Progress

House of Commons

2008-09 Session:

1st reading: 11 June 2009 [HC Bill 112]
2nd reading: 20 July 2009
Carry-over motion: 20 July 2009

Committee stage:

• 1st sitting: 20 October 2009 (am)
• 2nd sitting: 20 October 2009 (pm)
• 3rd sitting: 22 October 2009 (am)
• 4th sitting: 22 October 2009 (pm)
• 5th sitting: 27 October 2009 (am)
• 6th sitting: 27 October 2009 (pm)
• 7th sitting: 29 October 2009 (am)
• 8th sitting: 29 October 2009 (pm)
• 9th sitting: 3 November 2009 (am)
• 10thsitting: 3 November 2009 (pm)

2009-10 Session:

1st reading: 19 November 2009
2nd reading: 19 November 2009
Report stage: 09 December 2009
3rdreading: 09 December 2009

House of Lords

1st reading: 10 December 2009
2nd reading: 05 January 2010
Committee:

• 1st sitting: 19 January 2010
• 2nd sitting: 21 January 2010
• 3rd sitting: 25 January 2010
• 4th sitting: 27 January 2010
• 5th sitting: 08 February 2010

Report stage: 09 March 2010
3rd reading: 17 March 2010

Ping Pong: 22 March 2010

House of Commons

Programme motion (No.2): 22 March 2010 (no debate)

Royal Assent: 25 March 2010