Child Poverty & Social Mobility MARK FISHER CBE Social Justice Director, DWP November 2011

1. Child Poverty & Social Mobility MARK FISHER CBE Social Justice Director, DWP November 2011

2. Social Justice is about… Focusing (early) on the most vulnerable Tackling the root causes of disadvantage Delivering sustained outcomes, not against short-term targets Transforming lives by… Delivering Social Return on Investment Supporting innovative delivery models Making grassroots delivery a reality

3. Worklessness Debt Addiction Interactions Family breakdown Educational failure Social Justice: “Enabling the most vulnerable in society to get a foot on the ladder” Groups with specific manifestations of poverty: tackle the pathways to poverty in a sustained manner Groups for which specific action may be required to tackle the relevant root causes of poverty Offenders Disability Homelessness NEETS Older people Families Gangs Children and young adults Social Mobility Big Society Child Poverty Localism Other policy statements

4. GB FES GB FRS UK FRS 50 6 Figure: Time series of inequality measures 90/10 AHC 5 GINI AHC 40 90/10 BHC 4 GINI 90/10 RATIO GINI BHC 30 3 20 2 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1976 1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 2009-10 1994-95 1997-98 2006-07 2000-01 2003-04 Inequality in the UK has been rising since the 1960s In 2009/10 the Gini coefficient (Before and After Housing Costs) remained at 36 and 40 – the highest on record

5. Supporting the New Approach Previous approach • Income transfers through tax and benefit system • Central control over local areas through targets, monitoring, inspections and legislation • Local authorities running services for central government • Income Targets • Higher levels of spending Coalition’s approach • Focus on getting people into work and ensuring that work is always the best option. • Focus on ‘life chances’ and causes of poverty • Public Service Reform • Big Society & Localism • Income targets, but wider indicators in addition • Deficit reduction and growth