Government pledges end to children living in B&Bs

The government has pledged to stop children growing up in B&Bs and to make childcare more accessible for families on Universal Credit as part of its child poverty strategy.

It expects to lift around 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, "the biggest reduction in a single Parliament since records began", with measures including scrapping the two-child benefit cap.

Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said the effect of temporary accommodation was a reason attributed to the death of some children and babies, and that she would consider herself "a failure" if newborns were still living in B&Bs by the time she finished her job.

Homelessness charities welcomed the plans, but called for greater changes to lift people out of poverty.

Under the government's plans, councils will also have a new legal duty to notify schools, health visitors and GPs when a child is placed in temporary accommodation to provide "a more joined up" approach to supporting them.

The government confirmed that it will continue an £8m pilot to reduce dependence on B&Bs as emergency accomodation in the 20 local authorities with the highest use over the next three years.

It also plans to build 5,000 homes that can be used as more suitable temporary accommodation by 2030 as part of its upcoming homelessness strategy.

Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza says it is a welcome focus on improving the quality of temporary accommodation, where many children live in "shocking Dickensian conditions".

Homelessness charity Shelter agreed with the government that "no child should be growing up in a B&B or mouldy bedsit".

But it called on ministers to "get children out of temporary accommodation and into permanent homes" by unfreezing housing benefits and building a new generation of social rent homes.

The Health Foundation said the strategy marked progress, but "must go further" to deliver a "preventative approach that tackles the deep structural causes of poverty".

Meanwhile, the founder of the Big Issue magazine Lord John Bird said the government's strategy was lacking "ambitious targets".

"In this challenging economic climate, there is every reason to worry warm words will not translate into tangible progress," he said.

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the plans will make a "real difference" but called for "more than just these policies in isolation".

"A cross-Whitehall response, backed by widespread investment, is required," he said.

More accessible childcare is also included in the strategy, the government says, as childcare costs are one of the biggest barriers for getting back to work, with many struggling to cover upfront fees before getting their first payslip.

It has pledged a rule change from next year to extend eligibility for upfront childcare costs to people returning from parental leave, which it said will make it easier for new parents who receive Universal Credit to return to work.

Other measures include helping parents to save money on baby formula.

Additional reporting by Vanessa Clarke

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