One in three children in the capital are growing up in poverty, a new investigation by the London Assembly Economic Committee has revealed.
The ‘Child Poverty and Free School Meals’ report has found that some parts of the capital have the highest rates of children living in destitution in the country, despite London being one of the wealthiest cities in the world.
The Committee has called on the Government to publish an official policy to tackle child poverty rates in response to their findings.
Eight recommendations were put forward to Mayor Sadiq Khan to bring these figures down, including policies to incentivise employers to pay the London Living Wage and extending free school meals funding.
Commenting on the report, Committee Chair Marina Ahmad AM said: “Our findings are a stark reminder of the day-to-day struggles for many Londoners.”
According to the research, children from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, as well as those with single parents or a disabled household member, are disproportionately represented amongst London’s poorest children.
The report suggests low pay, job insecurity, the UK benefits system, the cost of housing and childcare costs are all contributing to the problem.
Rachel Walters, campaign co-ordinator at End Child Poverty, told City News that removing the two child limit on benefits would lift many children out of poverty automatically.
Neither Labour nor the Conservative Party have hinted at plans to scrap this policy.
HeadlineOne third of London’s children are growing up in poverty, says new report
Short HeadlineOne in three London children growing up in poverty
StandfirstThe London Assembly Economic Committee has called on the Government to publish a strategy to tackle the high rates
One in three children in the capital are growing up in poverty, a new investigation by the London Assembly Economic Committee has revealed.
The ‘Child Poverty and Free School Meals’ report has found that some parts of the capital have the highest rates of children living in destitution in the country, despite London being one of the wealthiest cities in the world.
The Committee has called on the Government to publish an official policy to tackle child poverty rates in response to their findings.
Eight recommendations were put forward to Mayor Sadiq Khan to bring these figures down, including policies to incentivise employers to pay the London Living Wage and extending free school meals funding.
Commenting on the report, Committee Chair Marina Ahmad AM said: “Our findings are a stark reminder of the day-to-day struggles for many Londoners.”
According to the research, children from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, as well as those with single parents or a disabled household member, are disproportionately represented amongst London’s poorest children.
The report suggests low pay, job insecurity, the UK benefits system, the cost of housing and childcare costs are all contributing to the problem.
Rachel Walters, campaign co-ordinator at End Child Poverty, told City News that removing the two child limit on benefits would lift many children out of poverty automatically.
Neither Labour nor the Conservative Party have hinted at plans to scrap this policy.
