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One Parent Families report from Fringe Meetings at Party Conferences
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Child Poverty - Where Next for Welfare?
Updated October 2006 A strong presence from One Parent Families ensured that the views of lone parents were heard at the 2006 party conferences. One Parent Families led the debate on, "Child poverty - where next for welfare?" at Liberal Democrat and Labour conferences by holding fringe meetings on the first day of both conferences. We then joined a coalition of children's charities at Conservative party conference to discuss whether the Government is doing enough to end child poverty.
At Labour Party Conference John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Carey Oppenheim, Chair of the London Child Poverty commission discussed ending child poverty.
John Hutton MP stated that although the subject of ending child poverty and poverty of lone parents was not a headline grabbing issue, it should be. He also warned that the Conservatives pledge to support the Child Poverty eradication target must be supported by more than just words. We have not yet seen the measures the Conservatives will implement in order to move a further 300,000 lone parents into work. John Hutton also accepted that the 70 per cent employment target for lone parents will be hard to meet. That is why the Government are increasing the number of work-focused interviews for lone parents on income support, to ensure that lone parents meet their responsibilities. John Hutton also said that there is still a long way to go until universal and affordable wrap around childcare would be available.
Carey Oppenheim raised concerns about the cost of living and the cost of childcare in London. She would like to see an extra component added to Working and Child Tax Credits for parents living and working in London.
David Laws MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions joined Lord Archy Kirkwood, former Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee at our fringe meeting in Brighton.
David Laws MP conceded that the policy to end child poverty had been neglected by the Liberal Democrat Party, but promised that it was an issue that they will be committed to in the future. He stated that it is a tragedy that children who start their lives in poverty, remain in poverty. He said that child poverty is long-lasting and must be tackled, otherwise it will continue to be a huge cost to society as problems are exacerbated when young people do not have sufficient support and become alienated. David Laws emphasised that the effect of emotional poverty on children must also be highlighted and tackled. He also discussed benefits, questioning whether the current system of tax credits and means tested benefits is suitable, or whether it should be completely overhauled.
Lord Kirkwood said that despite some success there is still much more Labour must do to fulfil it's ambitious goal of ending UK child poverty, a policy that the Liberal Democrats must support. He considered that in order to eliminate child poverty a special focus should be put on childcare, developing a Child Support Agency that is fit for purpose and the effective use of the third sector in training and supporting families.
At Conservative Party Conference Oliver Letwin MP, who is Chairman of the Policy Review and of the Conservative Research Department, and Donald Hirsch, Special Advisor to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation debated the issue of child poverty.
One Parent Families played a central role in the discussions on child poverty, making sure the financial deprivation that can affect children in one-parent families was highlighted to key decision makers. We plan to have an even stronger presence at this year's party conferences and are making plans for our fringe meetings in autumn 2007.
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