However, the Labour government still remains 500,000 short of the target it should have reached by 2004/05. There was also an increase of 200,000 children living in poverty in 2005/06. This casts the Labour governments targets into doubt. Not only did they fail to meet their target (a further decrease of 500,000 by 2004/05), there was also a rise in child poverty. The UK.
In conclusion, despite the Labour governments target and the drop in Child poverty levels since they came into power, recently those figures have increased and the government has failed in its target to reduce child poverty by a further 500,000 in 2004/5. And the government is failing overall in its target to halve child poverty by 2010.
Scottish child poverty figures which stood at 250,000 (25%) in 2005/06 has also fallen according to the Scottish Executive statistics to 23% and overall has improved in recent years
However the same figures show that in 1968, the figure was just 10% of children were living in relative poverty. And that 13% of children still live in absolute poverty.
Figures on children on free schools meals have also been falling. Children whose parents earn below £15,575 or recieve welfare payments are eligible for free school meaks. Last year the figure hit 14.5%.
However, recent statistics show that this year 17,000 more children are eligible for free school meals. An increase of 0.5% to 15%.
The Labour government have also introduced policies to tackle child poverty. One of these including encouraging families into paid employement (New Deal, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits). According, to the “Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2006” report if not for the tax credits 0.8 more children would be living in poverty. Numbers of child in poverty (working class families) would have risen from 2.3-2.8 million if not for the policies on tax credits. The Labour government have also introduced policies supporting familes with children to a greater extent by upgrading child benefit, Sure Start Maternity Grant, Child Tax Credits, Child Trust Fund. For example, from April 2007, Child Benefit is now paid at the 29th week of pregnancy at £18.10 and £12.10 for the first and second child respectfully
However the reason this policy has only been partially successful is because many argue that Minimum Wage levels are too low. In order to reduce poverty, a higher minimum wage level must be implemented. In relation many including the “Low Income Tax Reform Group” believe that the income tax thresholds need to be doubled to improve the income of the low earners. It was also found that the incomes of the highest paid had risen much faster than the low paid who were on tax credits. This has led to an increase the in wealth gap between wealthiest and poorest.
In conclusion, despite having introduced a policies to encourage families into employment, the Labour government has failed to tackle poverty effectively by concentrating on minimum wage levels and tax thresholds and what has resulted is the gap between the rich and the poor widening creating larger pay inequalities. The policies have been partially successful in their targets.
Arfan Rauf – Higher Modern Studies