New national report on poverty in the UK published.

Britain – a nation divided by poverty
09.03.04

UK ranked as having close to the worst regional inequality in the industrialised world – second only to Mexico

Every country and region within the UK suffers from ‘pockets’ of poverty – a new national report claims today.

Poverty: the facts (5th edition) is published by leading national charity the Child Poverty Action Group. It is the most authoritative and up to date analysis of poverty in Britain. It claims that although some regions and countries in the UK are poorer than others, each contains diverse areas and cities with different poverty levels.

It also considers recent government initiatives and reports on their ‘limited’ success.

Poverty: the facts shows that a third of people living in Inner London live in income poverty compared to 20% in outer London. The North East has an average annual income of almost £4,000 less than the rest of the country. London also has an average income of £14,000 more than Scotland.

Wales is poorer than Great Britain as a whole while in Scotland, 32% of the most employment-deprived wards are located in the city of Glasgow.

'Poverty spreads across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom,' said Dr. Paul Dornan, one of the authors of Poverty: the facts from the Child Poverty Action Group. 'The fact that of industrial nations we are ranked second to Mexico in terms of regional inequality is shocking.'

The latest official figures show that child poverty is in decline in Britain and that the Government hopes to reach its goal of reducing child poverty by a quarter in 2004/05. Despite this, and the reports recognition that policies to reduce deprivation are under way, more needs to be done for the regions and the population groups who have fallen furthest behind.

'Poverty is about an inadequacy of resources. In the end it is as simple as that.' said Dr. Paul Dornan.

Poverty; the facts brings together the latest statistics from across social policy areas. It reports that poverty affects groups within the UK population in different ways.

Ethnic Minorities
50% of Bangladeshi pupils are eligible for free school meals and over 61% of mixed origin families are single parent families – who are more likely to be poor – are way above the average.

Where the government has intervened, for example through the New Deal, only 31% of young people from ethnic minorities found sustained employment compared to over 40% of young white people in 2002/2003, leaving many of those families to rely on state benefits.

Women
High levels of representation in lower paid jobs and larger reliance on means tested benefits lead one of the reports authors Jan Flaherty to say 'Women’s poverty is compounded over a lifetime. They have lower rates of pay, work patterns interrupted because of caring for others…which combine to impoverish women throughout their lives.'

Children
54% of children living in lone-parent households are living in income poverty.

85% of children living in a household where no one is in paid work lives in income poverty

20% of those children entitled to free school meals did not take them up through fear of stigma and bullying.

Health
Inability to afford essentials like food means a poor diet, which can lead to poor health. Poverty: the facts reports that a healthy basket of food can be 51% more expensive than a similar basket containing standard food items.

Birth weight of children from low-income backgrounds continues to be up to 130 grams lower than other families in higher social classes. Sure Start, the government program targeting deprived areas will only reach a third of all children in poverty by the end of 2004.

'Poverty; the facts is a timely reminder.' said Dr. Paul Dornan, 'A reminder that despite government intervention much more needs to be done and at a faster rate.'

'Poverty; the facts proves that if you live in certain specific areas, and are a child then you are much more likely to live in poverty.'

'The effects of income poverty – of not having enough money – often leads to what can be a spiral of worsening deprivation. The government must do more to get more money to those who need it.'

For further information:
Ashley Riley
Press Officer
020 7812 5216 or 07811 324339
ariley@cpag.org.uk

Poverty: the facts (5th edition) is written by Jan Flaherty, John Veit-Wilson and Paul Dornan. It is published by the Child Poverty Action Group and is available from CPAG at £10.95 plus £3.30 p&p. Cheques/POs payable to CPAG, 94 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF. For review copies of the book please contact Ashley Riley, see above.

CPAG promotes action for the relief, directly or indirectly, of poverty among children and families with children. We work to ensure that those on low incomes get their full entitlement to welfare benefits. We receive no money from government and rely on donations. In our campaigning and information work we seek to improve benefits and policies for low-income families, in order to eradicate the injustice of poverty.