Child poverty measure must not detract from the real problem, campaigners warn

Under the existing measure, introduced by the previous Labour government, children living in households with an income of 60 per cent or less of the median national income, are deemed to be living in poverty.

The Times newspaper has claimed the government was considering scrapping the measure altogether, only to be met with strong opposition from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and children’s minister Sarah Teather.

The apparent motivation for the move was concern that the level could increase as a result of measures announced in Chancellor George Osborne’s autumn statement, resulting in negative press headlines.

The situation would represent the second time in recent months that Teather has stood up to government, having previously expressed concern over benefit cap levels.

Rhian Beynon, head of policy and campaigns at Family Action, said: "Scrapping the relative child poverty income targets might help the government avoid bad headlines but it would do little for children and families being pushed into poverty by welfare reform and cuts to tax credits, housing and childcare support.

"Children living in poverty need ministers focusing on how to give them a chance to fulfil their potential not squabbling over how to massage the numbers living below the breadline.

"There is now a range of research showing that in cases of multiple disadvantage there are risks to children apart from poverty but poverty remains one of the strongest and consistent correlating factors that the government cannot ignore. We need to see real action in the budget in March on measures to end child poverty."

It is not the first time controversy has surrounded potential changes to child poverty measures.

Last year, CYP Now reported that amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill to allow for the creation of a Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission would lead to other significant and changes.

The amendments included a clause relinquishing the government’s duty to report annually on progress made to reduce child poverty, as well as removing the requirement for the government to receive consent from the commission if it wants to change targets in relation to persistent poverty.