Daily roundup 18 December: Child poverty, life chances, and welfare changes

Progress into closing the gap between poor pupils and their wealthier peers has not moved fast or far enough, a report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission has said. According to the BBC the report notes only half of the poorest children are deemed school ready compared to two-thirds of their peers, while the poorest pupils are also still behind by the time they are taking GCSEs.


A joint inquiry into the government’s life chances strategy and the role that early or foundation years intervention plays in shaping people’s lives has been launched by the commons work and pensions and education select committees. It aims to examine the proposals to introduce new life chances indicators and inform the development of the government’s life chances strategy.


Families are being pushed into hardship because of the spare bedroom welfare changes, which are also failing to free up more homes, a government commissioned report has found. The BBC reports a survey of landlords suggested more tenants want to downsize, but social landlords and local authorities reported large numbers are unable to move due to a shortage of smaller homes.


Unwanted meals in Parliament should be donated to hungry children across the capital, Labour MP Chris Bryant has said. The London Evening Standard reports Bryant as claiming figures show 45,000 meals were wasted last year and has urged the government to consider giving unwanted meals to food banks.


Greater Manchester Police broke the law by strip-searching a 15-year-old boy without there being an appropriate adult present, a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has revealed. The Manchester Evening News reports the boy was taken into custody after being arrested and strip-searched despite there not being a guardian, social worker or other adult present.


Smoking in cars that are carrying under-18s is to be banned in Scotland. The BBC reports the decision comes after MSPs voted unanimously in favour of the law changes.