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<p>This Government is committed to delivering a sustainable, long-term solution to
poverty in all its forms. Tackling child poverty requires an approach that goes beyond
one that focuses on income alone to one that addresses the root causes of poverty
and disadvantage and improves long-term outcomes for families and children.</p><p>Through
Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families, a copy of which is attached, we set out
detailed evidence on the root causes of poverty and disadvantage and their impact
on the outcomes of children in families where none of the parents are working. We
also set out nine indicators to track progress in the areas that matter, including
two statutory measures of parental worklessness and educational attainment – the two
areas that we know can make the biggest difference to children’s outcomes.</p><p>There
is clear evidence that children in working households are not only less likely to
grow up in poverty – their life chances are also significantly better. We will therefore
continue to reform the welfare system so that it works with the tax system and the
labour market to support employment and higher pay. At the heart of our reforms is
Universal Credit, which is designed to help people move into work faster, stay in
work longer and spend more time looking to increase their earnings. Once fully implemented,
Universal Credit will inject in excess of £2bn more into the working age welfare system,
helping families in the greatest need.</p><p>Promoting full-time work through work
incentives is a key feature of this approach, reinforced by the National Living Wage
and the rising Personal Tax Allowance, which work together to promote independence
from benefits.</p>
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