Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government with which external experts from the region of the North East they plan to engage as part of their child poverty taskforce.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity.

The Child Poverty Taskforce, co-chaired by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has started urgent work to develop the Child Poverty Strategy, setting out the plan to reduce child poverty and deal with impacts that poverty has on children’s lives.

The Taskforce held its second meeting on 19 September and heard from local leaders, including the North East Mayor, about the challenges faced in different communities and how the Taskforce can best work with mayors, local authorities and other bodies to develop innovative solutions to tackle child poverty. This marked the first of a series of thematic sessions with key organisations, charities and experts on specific topics that will help to shape the government’s ambitious Strategy.

The government also recognises the importance of capturing the experiences of those living in poverty, which is why the Taskforce will also draw on findings from wider external engagement events in all regions and nations of the UK. These events will convene a broader range of voices, including front line staff and the perspectives of families and children themselves.