Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the forecast made by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in October that child poverty will increase by 4 per cent in southern England, and by 8 per cent in the Midlands, Wales and the North; and whether they intend to take remedial action.

Employment is key to helping people out of poverty and our welfare and tax reforms are designed to support people into employment. Employment is at historically high levels and the number of children living in a family where no one is working is 608,000 lower than it was in 2010.

This Government is committed to action that will make a meaningful difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged children and families. Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families, published on 4 April, set out a framework for a continued focus on improving children’s outcomes, now and in the future. A copy is attached.