News
Government risks increasing child poverty
Thursday 26 June 2008
The UK Government is putting the wellbeing of some of Scotland's poorest children at risk by forcing lone parents to get a job or face financial sanctions, warns CHILDREN 1ST.
In response to a consultation from the Social Security Advisory Council, a statutory UK body which advises on social security matters, CHILDREN 1ST has expressed grave concerns about the current welfare reform proposals affecting lone parents and their children.
The UK Government plans to force all lone parents into paid employment by removing their eligibility for Income Support, and instead placing them on Jobseekers Allowance when their youngest child is seven years old.
Jobseekers Allowance will penalise the parent if they do not take up a job, potentially reducing their household income and leaving vulnerable families struggling to meet their basic needs. Given that at least half of children in lone parent families in the UK are currently classed as poor, the proposal risks increasing child poverty; which rose by 100,000 children last year.
There can be many reasons a lone parent cannot work; including inflexible working hours or a lack of quality, affordable or appropriate childcare.
Jobcentre advisors will be able to take lack of childcare into account when making their decision, but cannot know in detail what is appropriate for an individual child or family. Given that Scotland already has a significant shortage of accessible childcare provision, CHILDREN 1ST believes that the proposals will be unworkable.
In addition, we are calling for the Government and society to value parents' right to choose the best care for their child. Parenting is a very important role which should not be undervalued or dismissed.
"We urge the Government to think again"
Director of children and family services, Maggie Mellon, said: "These proposals are a retrograde move that threaten to put any steps to end child poverty in Scotland in serious jeopardy. It is not acceptable to introduce a measure that will pose such a threat to children's welfare.
We urge the Government to think again; to postpone any such proposals and to pursue approaches that work. Compulsory welfare to work measures in the USA have not been successful. Instead, they have led to a significant rise in families with 'no work and no welfare', an increase in child poverty, and to large numbers of children being looked after in unregulated day care. Other problems have included increased levels of homelessness and lower educational attainment by teenagers forced to care for their siblings."
She continued: "Decent levels of child benefit and housing benefit would allow single parents to work within school hours without jeopardising the welfare of their children. Surely this is better than risking the wellbeing of our poorest children?
Caring for your child and spending time with them is one of the most fundamental and important aspects of being a parent. We fully support every parent's right to choose the best care for their child. If this means choosing to look after them full time, then parents should be able to do so, fully supported by the Government and by society."
Last updated: Saturday 11 April 2009
