300,000 more children growing up in absolute poverty, new figures reveal

date: 13 June 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on the latest Household Below Average Income figures published today (Thursday) by the Office for National Statistics - which show that the number of children growing up in absolute poverty increased by 300,000 between 2011 and 2012 - TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'Today's figures highlight how little progress is being made in tackling child poverty. More than one in four children are now growing up in households below the poverty line.

'While incomes have fallen for middle earners too, this huge decline in living standards is having a disproportionate impact on poorer families.

'More worryingly still, these figures date from before the huge wave of social security cuts the government has introduced over the last few months. Things are likely to get a lot worse in the future.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- Some 2.3 million children (17 per cent of all children) were recorded as living in relative poverty in 2011/12. This is the official measure of living in a household with less than 60 per cent of median average disposable income.

- Absolute poverty calculates the number of children living under the poverty line using average household incomes from 2010/11. Using this calculation the number of children living below the poverty line rose by 300,000 to 2.6 million (20 per cent of all children) and to 3.8 million (29 per cent of children) after housing costs AHC.

-The Households Below Average Income statistics can be found at - http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=hbai

- Polling published this week by the Campaign to End Child Poverty showed that nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of voters think the government is falling short in its efforts to end child poverty.

- The TUC's campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

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Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk