Thank you for contacting me about support for children and families. I agree that supporting our children and young people is very important and am encouraged that statistics show that there are 100,000 fewer children in absolute poverty compared to 2009/10 The new Government must continue to build on this.
I am firmly committed to supporting families, and I call on the Labour Government to ensure they help parents into work as the best way to ensure parents are able to support their households.
My beliefs on reducing child poverty centre on the clear evidence that parental employment substantially reduces the risk of poverty. This is why I supported the wide-ranging package set out in last year's Autumn Statement, with an investment of £2.5 billion over five years to boost workforce participation and tackle economic inactivity.
I believe more needs to be done to ensure our welfare system reflects the modern world of work, helps people into the jobs that are right for them and is set on a sustainable path for the taxpayer.
The welfare system must be balanced between providing strong work incentives and support for those who need it alongside fairness to the taxpayer and working families. The rules on welfare entitlement for families with more than two children is a part of that balance of fairness - the historic benefits structure, which adjusted automatically to family size, was unsustainable as well as unfair to many working families who do not see their incomes rise when they have more children. Moreover, recent statistics show that 78 per cent of families on Universal Credit (UC) had fewer than three children.
I welcome, however, that support is provided through Child Tax Credit and UC for a maximum of two children and understand that the same policy does not apply to the financial help available for childcare costs, passported benefits (for example, free school meals), additional support for any disabled children or Child Benefit.
I believe it is vital that the Government works to support those in need so please be assured that I will always stand up for my constituents when pressing the Government on important issues including support for childcare.
