Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2016 to Question 54256, what steps the Child Poverty Unit is taking to reduce poverty among children living in working households.

This Government is committed to action that tackles the root causes of poverty and disadvantage, not just the symptoms. There is clear evidence that work is the best route out of poverty. Working age adults in non-working families are almost four times more likely than those in work to be living on a low income. And the Child Poverty Transitions Report (Jun 2015) found that 74% of poor children in workless families that moved into full employment exited poverty.

This is why we are reforming the welfare and tax system to support people into work, ensure that work always pays, and to allow people to keep more of what they earn. For the first time ever we are supporting claimants who are in low paid work to increase their earnings and progress in their careers.