Legal News
Children^s Commissioners Predict Rising Levels of Child Poverty (24 November 2011)
Date: 24/11/2011
Children's commissioners are predicting that the UK will suffer from increased levels of child poverty as it attempts to deal with its economic problems. The commissioners, who fight for children's rights, claim that the cuts are already having an impact on “key children's services”. The commissioners have warned that the changes to the benefits system could result in an increasing number of families falling into poverty. The Government, meanwhile, has claimed that the changes to the welfare system will reduce levels of child poverty.
A recent report by the commissioners claimed to have seen improvements in the youth justice and the care of children seeking asylum and children with disabilities. However, it described the persistently high levels of child poverty across the UK as “unacceptable”. Official Government statistics have revealed that one in five children living in the UK is living in poverty. This is the equivalent of 2.6 million children. However, some organisations use a different measure of poverty and claim that the actual number of children living in poverty is one in three, or 3.8 million.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson claimed that child poverty could be reduced through an increase in the number of parents in employment. The spokesperson claimed that the welfare reforms would ensure that work pays.
Duncan Lewis’ childcare law solicitors represent the rights of children in the courts of law. The team can provide advice on childcare law to parents, other relatives and children’s guardians. The majority of public childcare law legal proceedings attract financial aid.