Third Report - Children in poverty: Measurement and targets
Select Committee
Work and Pensions Committee
HC 188
22 September 2021
Government response
Fifth Special Report - Children in poverty: Measurements and targets: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report · published 6 Dec 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 10
The Office for Statistics Regulation has recently made recommendations for improving income-based poverty statistics.
Conclusion
The Office for Statistics Regulation has recently made recommendations for improving income-based poverty statistics. DWP has said that it is considering its response to these recommendations, working with others in Government.
Government Response Summary
The Cross-Government Income and Earnings Coherence Steering Group will respond to OSR's recommendations, with a workplan published on 14 October, and will continue to liaise with OSR on its delivery.
Department for Work and Pensions
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3
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 28
Poverty is at least partly about a lack of material resources, and most people consider...
Conclusion
Poverty is at least partly about a lack of material resources, and most people consider income to be a core measure of poverty. But definitions of poverty cannot be entirely divorced from the society in which people live. A ‘poverty …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it will continue to publish all four statutory measures of children in low income and that analysts are reviewing the statistical validity of the absolute poverty low income line and the relevance of material deprivation goods and services.
Department for Work and Pensions
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4
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 29
We heard compelling evidence describing why a lack of material resources in childhood matters and...
Conclusion
We heard compelling evidence describing why a lack of material resources in childhood matters and the impact it has on child development and their future outcomes. But defining poverty in income terms does not mean that the Government’s response to …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges that tackling child poverty is a cross-government priority, highlighting DWP's role alongside other departments and noting that ONS is leading the development of an interactive tool for income and earnings statistics.
Department for Work and Pensions
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7
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 40
Poverty measurement is important because it involves translating abstract concepts and definitions into very concrete...
Conclusion
Poverty measurement is important because it involves translating abstract concepts and definitions into very concrete expressions of who is poor and who needs extra help. Backed by a legal obligation to do so, the UK Government measures and reports Children …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the importance of poverty measurement, confirming it will continue to publish statutory measures, and that analysts are reviewing the statistical validity of poverty lines and material deprivation indicators.
Department for Work and Pensions
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12
Conclusion
Acknowledged
DWP’s key collections of income-related poverty and wider social deprivation statistics are all published separately.
Conclusion
DWP’s key collections of income-related poverty and wider social deprivation statistics are all published separately. The Office for National Statistics also publishes separate statistics on household income. There is no consolidated publication and no clear narrative setting out how the …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges poverty is a cross-government priority and notes that ONS is leading the development of an interactive tool to explore income and earnings statistics, addressing the challenge of separately published data.
Department for Work and Pensions
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28
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 106
DWP and the Office for National Statistics both have survey and statistical research projects on...
Conclusion
DWP and the Office for National Statistics both have survey and statistical research projects on income. There is a risk that these overlap, reducing the quality of the overall data collected and contributing to reduced clarity in Government reporting of …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it continually considers ways to improve statistical publications and will continue to liaise with OSR on its ongoing income and earnings coherence work, but does not specifically commit to addressing the identified risk of overlap between DWP and ONS projects.
Department for Work and Pensions
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29
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 107
DWP should work with other UK producers of income statistics to co-ordinate the current suite...
Recommendation
DWP should work with other UK producers of income statistics to co-ordinate the current suite of survey and data analysis to strengthen the breadth and depth of work and improve reporting clarity. DWP should write to us by March 2022 …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the importance of improving statistical publications and referred to ongoing work like the GSS income and Earnings Coherence work plan and a cross-government steering group, but did not commit DWP to specific additional steps to integrate surveys or to writing to the Committee by March 2022.
Department for Work and Pensions
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32
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 116
Gaps in the analysis of income poverty for different ethnic groups caused by small survey...
Conclusion
Gaps in the analysis of income poverty for different ethnic groups caused by small survey samples reduces our understanding of poverty and solutions to it. We Children in poverty: Measurement and targets 55 therefore welcome DWP’s recent decision to increase …
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Government Response Summary
The government confirms the full Family Resources Survey (FRS) boost begins in April 2022 but states that the precise subgroups covered will depend on data analysis, response rates, and final sample sizes, making it impossible to provide a list by June 2022.
Department for Work and Pensions
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