Child Poverty
In April 2011 the Government published the strategy A New Approach to child poverty: Tackling the causes of disadvantage and transforming families' lives Responding to this, the Church of England issued a statement expressing concern that the strategy would not help deprived children and calling for a renewed focus on household income.
In February 2011 the Mission and Public Affairs Council submitted a response to the Government's consultation Tackling child poverty and improving life chances: consulting on a new approach.
The previous Government had expressed its commitment to eradicating child poverty by 2020 through the Child Poverty Act 2010. The Bishops of Leicester and Hereford spoke broadly in support of the Act's principles at 2nd Reading, and the Bishop of Ripon & Leeds during the Queen's Speech debate. The Bishop of Bradford spoke in favour of amendments at Report on minimum income standards and maternal nutrition (though these did not make it into the Bill). A copy of the response from the Mission and Public Affairs Council to the 2009 consultation document Ending child poverty: making it happen can be found here.
The Mission and Public Affairs Council is a signatory to the End Child Poverty Coalition.
In Spring 2003, the Department of Work and Pensions issued a consultation document on measuring child poverty. A copy of the response from the Board for Social Responsibility can be found here.
The Church of England is committed to child benefit and its role in eradicating child poverty. General Synod has debated Child Benefit twice: in February 1981, and July 1986. On each occasion it emphasised the importance of Child Benefit to families.
The debate in July 1986 resolved:
'That this Synod believes that child benefit is a crucial way of attacking family poverty and asks HM Government to ensure:
a) that the real value of child benefit is protected, and
b) that all family support is paid through the mother's purse.'
In 1981 the Synod carried the motion:
'That in view of the damaging effect of inflation on family budgets, this Synod urgently requests Her Majesty's Government to increase Child Benefit Allowance in such a way that it maintains its value against inflation.'
