Children going without heating in ‘almost-Dickensian' poverty
Official estimates for the year to March 2024 indicate a record 4.45 million children were living in poverty across the UK.
The Commissioner's report strongly advocates for the government to scrap the two-child benefit limit, arguing it is fundamental to any child poverty strategy.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson suggested that recent financial pressures could make it more difficult to abolish the two-child benefit cap, despite calls from various campaign groups.
Beyond scrapping the limit, the Commissioner also urged for a "triple-lock" for child-related benefits, reforms to temporary accommodation, free bus travel for school children, and enhanced safety measures in low-income areas.
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Britain is missing its chance to divert investment from America
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41 minutes ago
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Religious orders will be ‘held accountable' for sex abuse crimes in schools
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'It will be anonymised, and it will mean that every single person who wishes to come forward to tell their story, to tell what happened to them, in that non-adversarial way that they would be able to do so, and it will allow all survivors to do this.' She added: 'The work that is happening in parallel is further examination of the religious orders, what funds they have, what assets they have, what levers may be used by government to ensure that funding is provided by those religious groups and orders. 'It's only after that that obviously a decision would have to be taken on a redress scheme. 'So while it's happening in parallel, it's not the establishment of a redress scheme, it's for the work that is needed, but I'm really clear those who are responsible should be held accountable, and that includes financially, but there is a body of work still needed. 'There are a number of different measures that we're working on at the moment. Some would require legislative change. 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