Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on tackling child poverty.

Tackling child poverty is a cross-government matter. Ministers in HM Treasury, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Department for Education work together, in conjunction with other Government Ministers, towards the goal of ending child poverty.

The Child Poverty Act 2010 places a duty on the government to consult with the devolved administrations when preparing a child poverty strategy. The Government has also established the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, an independent advisory NDPB, to monitor the progress the Government and others are making towards improving social mobility and reducing child poverty in the United Kingdom. This includes describing the measures taken by the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Minister of State for Schools recently consulted with the devolved administrations on two matters. The consultation on the Child Poverty Strategy 2014-17 (from 27 February to 22 May) and the consultation on Setting a Persistent Poverty Target (from 26 June to 14 August). Ministers carefully considered the views expressed by the devolved administrations, and all other respondents, when making their decisions on these.

Additionally, UK Government officials met with officials from the devolved administrations in August to discuss approaches and evidence. Regular meetings are planned for the future.