Oral Answers to Questions

John Slinger Excerpts

Monday 11th November 2024 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[John Slinger (Rugby) (Lab)]

1. What recent estimate she has made of the level of child poverty in Rugby constituency.

[Tracy Gilbert (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab)]

6. What recent estimate she has made of the level of child poverty in Edinburgh North and Leith constituency.

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Liz Kendall)]

This morning the nation fell silent to pay tribute to all those who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Today we honour and remember them. I quote the words inscribed on Lutyens’ beautiful Arch of Remembrance in Leicester from the hymn “O Valiant Hearts”:

“All they hoped for, all they had, they gave to save mankind—themselves they scorned to save”.

Some 4.3 million children are growing up in poverty—700,000 more than in 2010. That is why the work of our cross-Government child poverty taskforce is so urgent, and why we will use all levers available to increase family incomes, reduce family costs and give every child the best start in life.

[John Slinger]

I have had the privilege of assisting the brilliant volunteers at the Make Lunch organisation in Rugby, which provides holiday lunch clubs with play activities for entire families, including those with complex needs. Last summer it fed 25 families, last Christmas it bought slow cookers for families and this Christmas it is offering hampers. They treat families with dignity. As with food banks, is it not an indictment of the record of the last Government that such charitable support is needed in the first place?

[Liz Kendall]

Make Lunch sounds like an absolutely brilliant charity, and I ask my hon. Friend to pass on our great thanks for its fantastic work. That work is urgent, because the Child Poverty Action Group estimates that a quarter of children in my hon. Friend’s constituency are growing up poor. Our child poverty strategy will be published in the spring, but we will not wait to act. That is why the Budget announced a new fair repayment rate to slash universal credit deductions and give 1.2 million of the poorest households £420 on average a year, lifting thousands of children out of poverty.