Child poverty targets planned for councils

The government has announced that local councils will be required to meet local targets on child poverty. Under the proposals local authorities will have to set a target for the percentage of children in their area living in low-income families. Other plans to end child poverty by 2020 include setting up a national commission on child poverty which will report to parliament on its progress and a pilot scheme to help parents of younger children prepare for employment by paying for childcare costs when they attend training or counselling.