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22 January 2019 - 09:21
News ID: 443105

RNA - The research by the Social Metrics Commission (SMC) found that 14.2 million people were living in poverty under the new measure, of which 4.5 million were children and 1.4 million were people of pension age, according to The Independent.




The new measure accounts for the negative impact on people's weekly income of “inescapable” costs such as childcare and the impact that disability has on people's needs, and includes the positive impacts of being able to access liquid assets such as savings.




Margaret Greenwood, Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary, stated, “The government’s strategy to tackle poverty consists of trying to mask the deep cuts it has made to social security by disputing the numbers of people in poverty."






Philippa Stroud, chair of the SMC, stated that “for too long it has been possible to have a debate about the measurement of poverty".


“Measuring poverty is complex, and this report offers further insight into that complexity and the additional measures that can be taken into consideration," a UK government spokeswoman said, adding, ”This government is committed to making a positive difference to the outcomes for poor and disadvantaged families and children."

“Through our welfare reforms we are providing personalized support, helping people overcome their specific barriers and allowing them to progress into work and then progress in work - as we know this still remains the best route out of poverty," she stressed.



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