Wales’ poverty progress ‘disappointing’, says Bevan Foundation Director

The Bevan Foundation has found that nearly a quarter (23%) of Wales’ population live in a household with an income less than 60% of the median after housing costs are taken into account. The proportion has not changed since the mid-2000s, and remains one of the highest in the UK.

Bevan Foundation Director, Dr Victoria Winckler, said: “The latest figures are very disappointing. That around 700,000 people – many of them in work – are struggling to make ends meet suggests that UK and Welsh Government policies aren’t working. Even worse, reducing poverty seems to have fallen off the current Welsh Government’s agenda, with few references to it in Welsh Labour’s manifesto and the post of tackling poverty Minister disappearing.”

The think-tank also found that there has been a welcome decrease in the proportion of children living in poverty, down to 29% of children. However, there has been a surprising increase in the proportion of pensioners on low incomes, up to 17%.

Victoria Winckler continued: “The decrease in child poverty is good news, but we mustn’t forget that it still means that three out of ten children are growing up in poor families. The proportion of children in poverty remains nearly twice that of pensioners: it’s time to ask if the balance between support for children and pensioners is right.

“We need a change of approach – focusing on getting people into work is not tackling the underlying problem that too many households do not have enough to live on. There needs to be a real push to improve the pay and conditions of a lot jobs in Wales, and ensure people can be upskilled throughout their working lives.”

The Equality and Social Justice Briefing on Poverty is available exclusively for Bevan Foundation subscribers, and a summary briefing is available to download here.