---

Child Poverty Bill

My Lords, I want to add a word to what the noble Lord, Lord Freud, said. I too am somewhat concerned about the meaning of "socio-economic disadvantage", particularly because it does not appear in the interpretation in Clause 17—that is, page 10 of the Bill—where a lot of phrases are interpreted. "Socio-economic" comes through both parts of the Bill, not only the first part. There is the UK strategy in Clause 8(2)(b), that children, ""do not experience socio-economic disadvantage"." The UK strategy in Clause 8(5) deals with matters such as financial support and the, ""development of the skills of parents … health, education, childcare and social services, and … housing, the built or natural environment and the promotion of social inclusion"." It worries me that it is not at all clear what "socio-economic disadvantage" means. It seems it means something to do with the deprivation of those matters under Clause 8(5). I respectfully recommend that the Minister at least considers putting in the phrase "socio-economic disadvantage" as part of the interpretation of Part 1 and possibly in Part 2. Then at least those who work with this Bill when it becomes law know what it is they have to target.