“Child poverty in the North East reached shameful levels under the previous Conservative government” – Emma Foody MP
A North East MP has welcomed the action being taken by the government to tackle child poverty in the North East following the shameful record of the previous government. Cramlington and Killingworth MP Emma Foody raised the action being nationally and locally to tackle child poverty during Work and Pensions Questions in Parliament.
Last week the government launched the Child Poverty Strategy, following the removal the two-child benefit cap announced in the budget. The measures in the Child Poverty Strategy alongside measures already taken by the government will lift 550,000 children out of poverty, the largest reduction in child poverty in a single Parliament since records began.
Speaking in Parliament Ms Foody said
“Child poverty in the North East reached shameful levels under the previous Conservative government– damaging the life chance of children and young people. This government is turning the tide not only with the removal of the two-child benefit cap alongside the expansion of free school meals and breakfast clubs lifting 550,000 children out of poverty.
“Can the Minister set out how the Child Poverty Taskforce will work alongside the North East’s Child Poverty Reduction Unit to make sure that in the North East we can go even further?”
In the response the Minister for Employment welcomed the action being taken in the North East and added that “Now that the Strategy has been published we will continue to work with Mayors and Local Authorities, the public and private sector, through a dedicated team in government with a strong Ministerial oversight to deliver on tackling child poverty across the United Kingdom”.
Following her Question, Ms Foody added:
“That child poverty was allowed to grow in the North East under the previous Government should be a source of immense shame. Child poverty doesn’t just harm those children and their life chances, but it can have life-long impacts on their ability to fulfil their potential.
“A joined-up approach regionally and nationally to tackling child poverty is not just an investment in those children and supporting families in the North East, but it ensures that children and young people in our communities and region can achieve their potential and have the best start in life”.