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United Kingdom Jonathan Bradshaw

United Kingdom Jonathan Bradshaw. Seminar on Child Poverty and Child Well-being Brussels 26 November 2009. In 1980s child poverty more than doubled. 1999 Tony Blair announces eradication of child poverty by 2020. Strategy Manage economy to maximise employment

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United Kingdom Jonathan Bradshaw

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  1. United KingdomJonathan Bradshaw Seminar on Child Poverty and Child Well-being Brussels 26 November 2009

  2. In 1980s child poverty more than doubled

  3. 1999 Tony Blair announces eradication of child poverty by 2020 • Strategy • Manage economy to maximise employment • Make work pay – minimum wage, child benefit, tax credits • Improve out of work benefits for families with children • Invest in health, education, childcare • Targets and monitoring

  4. Opportunity for All indicators

  5. Positive record • (Before the recession) employment at record levels • Lone parent employment up 44-57% • OECD “Growing unequal” UK, Belgium, Italy and Hungary only countries in EU with reduction in child poverty 1995-2005 • Moved up the EU league table – even better on poverty gaps and deprivation • Massive extra investment + Euros 5000 for bottom quintile families • 1.7 million more poor children without it

  6. Faults in strategy • Awful starting point • Too little too late • Child poverty rate still double 1979 • Missed 5 year and 10 year targets • Too reliant on employment • Half of poor children have a working parent • Children in workless households highest in EU • Out of work benefits way below poverty threshold • Failed to find the means –cf £5 billion to meet 2010 target £20 billion to RBS • Public support suspect

  7. Child poverty fell – but not sustained

  8. Net disposable income for a couple plus two children before housing costs by hours supplied at the minimum wage from April 2009. Rent = £60 a week, Council Tax = £18.00 a week

  9. EU Child well-being: Summary

  10. Future • Recession – social protection better but not poverty proof • Policies in the pipe-line – 600,000 more children lifted out of poverty • Institutional transformation • Child Poverty Bill – targets for 2020, published strategy, Child Poverty Commissioner, All Party Support • Key is how will government respond to the deficit • Wait for General Election

  11. Final Fact • Goldman Sachs bonus pool for 2009= $23 billion • About twice as much as is needed to reach the 2010 child poverty target

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