Transcript of Peter Hain's speech on the Anti Poverty Strategy

Please note that this is a note of the key comments made by the Secretary of State, and not a verbatim record of the speech he delivered. You can also view the full video of the speech.

Opening remarks

• Pleased to launch the strategy.
• Pleased to be doing it at NICVA, because the sector has made a major contribution, as he discussed with Seamus McAleavey earlier.
• The sector has ensured policy framed in a way that really changes lives at the grassroots.
• Making sure government is up to speed, which they haven’t always been. Making sure government continues to be so.
• Publishing is one thing, delivery and making the transformation needed is another. The sector has a crucial role in that.
• Hopes there are no dissidents in the room, because the strategy is launched in co-operation with the voluntary and community sectors, they are essential to the task we face.
• Thanks for voluntary activity and community energy, which will help us make the change we need.
• As a Labour cabinet minister, social justice and equality are vital to my politics.
• Although proud of what the Labour government has achieved, I know there is much to be done. Social change at the heart of the New Labour agenda.
• Historic commitment to eliminate child poverty by 2020, and government is committed to deliver on it.

Employment is a route out of poverty and into opportunity.

• We have a strong economy.
• NI showing more prosperity than ever before. There are more jobs than ever before.
• This is still not enough to tackle poverty.
• We’re making work pay. Minimum wage has made a big difference to thousands of people.
• Tax credits and child credit, pension credit and employment credits are making sure that we make work pay, and we can lift people, as we are lifting pensioners out of absolute poverty.
• We’ve created financial incentives to work, tackling poverty amongst working people, and households with or without children.
• Across the UK, 2m people lifted out of absolute poverty since 1997.
• The number of unemployed households have fallen considerably. All this is good news.
• Much more needs to be done.
• Big challenges remain in Northern Ireland, as you are acutely aware.
• 1 in 4 children live in poverty
• Half of those live in unemployed households; that is just not good enough
• Health inequalities, diet inequalities
• Housing inequalities
• Educational inequalities, and big problems in unemployment.
• Lowest claimant count unemployment, more jobs than before in NI history.
• Too many in ‘economic inactivity’, who could work if given support and opportunity, but not claiming unemployment benefit.
• We have the highest economic inactivity in UK. That is not good enough.
• Addressing this is a key part of the strategy.

We today state the government’s goals at every stage of every person’s life.

• Every child should have a chance to develop to full potential in infancy, regardless of social background, religion or class.
• All children experience a fulfilling and happy childhood, while equipping them with education, skills and experience to achieve potential to be citizens for tomorrow.
• Every working age adult should have a chance to participate fully in economic, social and cultural life
• Older people should be valued, respected, remain independent, participate as active citizens, have a good quality of life in a safe and shared community.

In practical terms:

Only by offering children at greatest risk of poverty an opportunity to fulfil potential, can we avoid the cycle of deprivation remorselessly passed on from parent to child.

• Earlier this year, I announced £4.7m in the Children and Young Person’s Fund for Surestart and improved opportunities for young people in disadvantaged areas
• That new money is crucial to provide joined up government to tackle this problem.
• Government will work to provide a children's centre in disadvantaged areas throughout NI.
• Integrated care and education for young children on a 8am-6pm basis. Health services, family support, and a base for childminders.
• Act as a service hub, a type of one stop shop for parents and providers of childcare, of children of all ages.
• A base for childminder networks, a link to other day care provision, out of school clubs and extended schools.
• Links to jobs and benefits offices, training and education providers.
• Four of these centres to be provided early next year, many more to roll out. I expect these funds to be locked into the baseline of NI spending, not to be time limited.
• A better focus for integration of support services.

The strategy recognises that tackling economic inactivity is a real priority

• Additional spending of around £35m for Science and Skills Fund announced earlier this year.
• Strategy commits us to work towards providing Support to address barriers to employment for every unemployed or economically inactive person who wants it.
• 'Pathways to Work' offers detailed personal advice and support for those who’ve been on benefit for a long time, including the disabled, if they want to. No frogmarching into jobs.
• Free rail and bus transport for pensioners across Ireland is improving life chances and lifestyles in old age.
• Strategy for tackling fuel poverty, installing solar panels for free on the rooves low income homes, are being rolled out.
• 'NI only' protection on rates for those on low incomes, and on water charges, not in my Constituency.

In terms of the strategy, we have to make it happen and commit resources.

• In the Comprehensive Spending Review, anti-poverty is a key cross cutting priority.
• Departmental spending plans directly linked to delivery of commitments in this strategy, and benchmarked against these objectives.
• Departments should make provision for work currently being undertaken under the children and young persons and science and skills funds.
• Departments must deliver those objectives.

The strategy takes account of extensive consultation, including with NICVA.

• The strategy takes account of the formal evaluation of New TSN policies.
• We noted particularly criticisms of New TSN, and took account of the extensive research and statistical data.
• The work under the strategy will continue, like in New TSN, to be directed at those groups and areas in greatest objective need.
• We’ll benchmark what we do against other jurisdictions.
• Will work in partnership with other bodies where it makes sense to do so.
• North-South co-operation is crucial to taking forward this agenda, as proven in the joint development of the North West of Ireland.
• We will measure the effects of the strategy and publish the results of evaluations regularly. I will invite key stakeholders to take part in the Poverty Forum.

NICVA and colleagues will be absolutely vital to accountability.

• You must be a thorn in the side of government, and departments, in a constructive way, otherwise we will fall short, which is the nature of government. Your role is essential, if we are committed, as I hope we are.
• We are not going to be able to do this unless we work together, to remove the scourge of poverty.

With continued economic growth and stability, and the resolution of political problems, which I am confident we can achieve, this is the best opportunity for decades to lead the fight against and eliminate poverty.

NI is a great place to live and visit. Beautiful countryside, and warm people.

• Now we have peace and prosperity, and Northern Ireland's politics is beginning to be locked in, along with the prospect of permanent devolved government, we have a tremendous opportunity to conquer poverty.
• It is still an embarrassing and shameful curse on our society. We must work together to eliminate it.
• This strategy is a very important milestone. I look forward to working with you for as long as I have direct responsibility.
• I hope after 26 March, that the new power-sharing executive, with dedicated ministers, will work in partnership with you.
• Thank you very much, and good luck.

The Secretary of State concluded his remarks.