The Child Poverty Bill

The government announced a Child Poverty Bill nearly a year ago - why has it taken so long to see it? It may be one of those occasions where a press-grabbing policy statement was made, and then the detailed work began. However, that's not to downplay government's strenuous efforts to reduce child poverty since their pledge to eradicate it in 1999. The bill, published on 11 June, builds on that work and tries to keep the momentum going - with a touch perhaps of the government also trying to protect the legacy of one of its bravest policy announcements.

But is it possible to legislate to eradicate child poverty? The bill doesn't aim to completely eradicate poverty - it aims to reduce and sustain that reduction. It places a duty on the Secretary of State to meet UK-wide targets by 1 April 2020. There are four targets: less then 10 per cent of children will live in relative low income; less than five per cent of children will live in combined material deprivation and low income; less than five per cent of children will live in absolute low income; and a yet-to-be-identified percentage will live in persistent poverty. The persistent poverty target awaits new survey data before it can be set.

How will they meet those targets? The Secretary of State must publish a UK strategy within 12 months of the bill being passed, and then report back on its progress. That strategy is meant to provide the detail of what and how, but specific reference is made to what the government is calling "building blocks": the employment or skills development of parents; the provision of financial support for children and parents; health, education and social services; and housing as well as the built or natural environment. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are all under a duty to publish their own strategies, to which the UK strategy may refer.

Isn't there some sort of Child Poverty Commission as well? Yes, a UK-wide body with a membership appointed by the Secretary of State, and seemingly there to give advice when called upon to do so by the same minister - a problem for those who want the commission to have a little more authority and autonomy.

What about local government? Part two of the bill covers duties on local government and partner authorities including police, health, transport, and the youth offending team. These include a duty to promote co-operation in order to reduce and mitigate the negative effects of child poverty in a local area. Proposals to do so will require the preparation and publication of a local child poverty needs assessment and a joint strategy. The strategy should also link to the sustainable community strategy for the area.

How enforceable is this? Clause 15 requires the government and commission to take into account economic and fiscal circumstances when preparing the UK strategies or offering advice. The devolved nations are obliged to have regard to available resources and the effect that any implementation of their strategies might have on those resources. The question is: does this provide a convenient excuse for doing little when times are tough?

FACT FILE

- The government's Child Poverty Unit estimates that the average annual cost of legislating against child poverty will be £21bn

- It also suggests that a 10 per cent increase in spend on tackling child poverty will lead to a 10 per cent increase in benefit accruals

- The Child Poverty Bill