Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts

Monday 13th November 2023 Commons Chamber

[Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab)]

3. What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of children experiencing destitution.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)]

4. What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of children experiencing destitution.

[Fleur Anderson (Putney) (Lab)]

8. What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of children experiencing destitution.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mel Stride]

I think that our record is extremely clear. Since 2010, we have 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty, 400,000 fewer children in absolute poverty, and 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty. Under Labour’s watch, we had 1 million people parked on long-term sickness benefits for more than 10 years.

[Liz Twist]

There has been a shameful increase in the level of destitution in the UK, with 1 million children not having their basic needs met. In my constituency of Blaydon, nine children in every classroom are living in poverty. Across the north-east, there has been a 12% increase in emergency food bank parcels in the past year. Does the Minister agree that his Government have completely failed the most vulnerable children in the UK?