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<p>The UK’s gender pay gap is now at a record low of 15.5%, but the Government recognises
that closing the gender pay gap alone will not eliminate social issues such as financial
domestic abuse and child poverty. Targeted support and interventions are essential.</p><p>In
December 2015, we introduced the new domestic abuse offence of controlling or coercive
behaviour in order to tackle purposeful patterns of behaviour over time to exert power,
control, and coercion over another person, which includes financial and economic abuse.
We are including economic abuse in the new statutory definition of domestic abuse
to acknowledge the impact that economic abuse can have on a victim’s life. This will
raise awareness and enable frontline professionals and the criminal justice system
to better recognise and tackle it.</p><p>Our ambition is to level up across the country
and to continue to tackle child poverty through our reformed welfare system that works
with the labour market to encourage people to move into and progress in work wherever
possible. The latest data from 2018/19 showed that only 3% of children in households
where both parents work full-time were in absolute poverty (before housing costs)
compared to 47% where one or more parent was in part-time work.</p><p>Our £30bn Plan
for Jobs will support economic recovery through new schemes including Kickstart and
Job Entry Targeted Support. We are also doubling the number of work coaches who, through
our Jobcentre network, will provide more people with the tailored support they need
to move back into work and towards financial independence.</p><p> </p>
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