A report by UNICEF has called on Keir Starmer to lift the two-child benefit limit and recruit hundreds of health visitors as data shows the grim impact on childrens’ health and learning
A UN agency has demanded Keir Starmer lifts the two-child benefit limit as a damning report shows the grim toll of deprivation on children.
A study by UNICEF – the international body’s arm supporting kids – found youngsters from England’s most deprived areas are more likely to visit A&E, be overweight or obese and have teeth removed due to decay. They also have lower levels of learning development by the time they start primary school, researchers found.
The report, published today, said there must be “immediate” and “ambitious” action as pressure mounts on the PM to announce measures to tackle child poverty.
UNICEF’s UK chief last night warned delays will “entrench inequality and condemn hundreds of thousands of children to poverty and its effects”. As well as lifting the two-child limit, the organisation also urged ministers to agree large-scale investment in health visitors and better funding for Family Hubs, which provide vital support to parents.
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The report said child poverty has increased more in the UK then in any of the world’s 38 biggest economies. Researchers found children from deprived areas are three times more likely to have had teeth removed by the age of five, while a quarter are overweight or obese.
UNICEF’s damning document found the five local authorities with the highest deprivation levels – Blackpool, Knowsley, Liverpool, Kingston upon Hull, and Middlesbrough – were in the lowest 20% for five of the six child wellbeing measures used in the analysis.
And it said 1.2 million babies and children under the age of five – 35% of the age group’s total population – now live in poverty across England.
Dr Philip Goodwin, chief executive at UNICEF UK, said: “It is not acceptable that children in deprived areas are more likely to be behind at school, to be overweight or obese, to experience tooth decay and pain, and more likely to attend A&E – all before their fifth birthday.
“There must be immediate, decisive, and ambitious action by the government. Any further delays will entrench inequality and condemn hundreds of thousands of children to poverty and its effects, as child poverty rates continue to rise.
“The government must act urgently to lift the two-child limit and the benefit cap and commit to investing in the vital health and education services that support children during their crucial early years.”
Mr Starmer has come under intense criticism for not abolishing the two-child limit, which restricts child welfare payments to a family’s first two children. It was introduced in 2015 by former Tory Chancellor George Osborne.
Charities and MPs across the political spectrum say it must be torn up as part of the Government’s drive to bring down poverty. Last week Mr Starmer told the Commons he is “absolutely determined” to drive this down.
The report recommends recruiting an additional 1,000 health visitors a year and making access to Government-funded childcare hours equal for all children aged two or older.
Tomorrow UNICEF UK will present a petition at No10 calling for investments in early childhood. Campaigners will be joined by BBC presenter Dr Chris Van Tulleken.
A Government taskforce is drawing up a strategy to tackle child poverty. Last week ministers announced free school meals would be open to families on Universal Credit from next year.
Mr Starmer described this as a “down payment” and said last week: “I want to get to the root causes of child poverty. One of the greatest things the last Labour government did was to drive down child poverty.
“I am determined we will do that.” A government spokesman said: “This government is taking action to reduce child poverty through our dedicated taskforce, and to address the stark health inequalities across the country.
“We have introduced free breakfast clubs, increased pupil premium funding to support disadvantaged children in schools, and announced plans to expand free school meals to all children in households on Universal Credit.
“Through our Plan for Change, we will create the healthiest generation and give children the best start in life. That includes tackling childhood obesity through junk food advertising restrictions, introducing a national supervised toothbrushing programme to prevent tooth decay in young children, and piloting new powers for health visitors to improve childhood vaccination rates.”
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