Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of cross-government approaches to tackling poverty in areas experiencing deprivation.

The drivers of poverty span employment, social security, housing, education, childcare, health and the cost of living. Cross-government action is therefore essential to effectively tackle poverty.

That is why the Child Poverty Strategy was developed by a cross-government Ministerial Taskforce and its implementation is overseen by an Interministerial Group on Child Poverty. The strategy brings together measures to increase family incomes, reduce essential costs and strengthen local support for children and families.

We recognise that deprivation is often concentrated in particular places, which is why the strategy also includes support delivered through local partners and communities, including the Crisis and Resilience Fund, Best Start Family Hubs and other place-based initiatives including Pride in Place.