Written question asked by Lord Bird (Crossbench) on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. It was answered by Baroness Sherlock (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Poverty: Children

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure ministerial accountability to Parliament for progress on the reduction of child poverty.

Answer

The Monitoring and Evaluation framework published alongside the Strategy sets out how we will hold ourselves to account on delivering the impact we have promised through this Parliament and beyond as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and continued learning.

We will work across government, with devolved governments, local authorities, stakeholders and experts as part of our long-term evaluation. Further details on our approach to monitoring and evaluation will follow in a baseline report in Summer 2026, which will set out the latest statistics and evidence, with annual reporting thereafter to monitor and evaluate progress.

Government also has a statutory duty to publish poverty statistics in the annual Households Below Average Income statistical publication.

The Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Education retain responsibility for Child Poverty across government and continue to work closely with their colleagues to deliver on the Child Poverty Strategy.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL15076
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Poverty: Children
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Written questions
House of Lords; Poverty: Children
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Poverty Children
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Poverty: Children

Secondary information

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