‘Ending child poverty is now the urgent policy priority for any future government and scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap and expanding free school meals eligibility are essential first steps down that road, but a comprehensive strategy across government is also needed to protect the well being of all children and achieve a fair deal for them - the next Government will need to go further and ensure child benefit is increased across the board and free school meals are available for every child.’
Nine hundred thousand children in poverty are not eligible for free school meals (FSM) because the qualifying criteria is so restrictive, Child Poverty Action Group analysis of DfE FSM data, published today, shows.
Poverty is devastating. It puts children’s education, health and life chances on the line. More than four million children are living in poverty in the UK. That’s nine kids in an average classroom of 30. This isn’t right, and it doesn’t have to be like this.
Since our last report was published, the DWP has brought forward the managed migration of 800,000 employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants who do not get tax credits, which had been delayed until 2028.
To mark the day of his funeral, we're publishing our tribute to Frank, who was a true champion for children and low‐income families. He was a rare and admirable ‘one off’. He will be greatly missed.
Responding to the First Minister’s Statement on ‘Priorities for Scotland’ John Dickie, Director of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), said “First Minister’s commitment must be backed by concrete policies and investment on a scale well beyond what we heard today”
‘It’s good to hear that ending child poverty is central for Labour, but the best way to achieve that is by ending the two-child limit on benefits which is driving so many children into hardship. A child poverty reduction plan is essential, but scrapping the two-child limit would have to be step one.'
