End of two child limit moving closer to becoming law this week

·       4,030 children in Edgbaston set to benefit as historic bill to end two child limit moves closer to becoming law

4,030 children in Edgbaston set to benefit from extra support for their families as the bill to scrap the two child limit reaches its third reading this week, marking the most significant step to reduce child poverty in a generation.

Two child limit has pushed hundreds of thousands of children into poverty, damaging their health, their education and their life chances. Alongside an increased risk of obesity and mental health problems, growing up in poverty holds children back from achieving their potential. Children growing up in poverty are less likely to do well at school - with fewer than one in four children in poverty achieving five good GCSEs - and are more likely to face unemployment, losing up to £1 million in lifetime earnings.

By intervening now to tackle the root causes of child poverty, we’re giving thousands of children a better chance to come to school ready to learn, setting themselves up to succeed and go on to have secure, well-paid jobs.

This could also help to address skill shortages felt across the country. In the UK, there are skills shortages in jobs such as care workers, home carers and software developers due to employers being unable to find applicants with the right skills, qualifications or experience to fulfil roles. Lifting children out of poverty will not only benefit families in the short term but is an investment that will help bolster Britain’s future workforce.

Removing the two child limit will lift 450,000 children out of poverty in the final year of this parliament. That will rise to around 550,000 alongside other measures announced this year, such as the expansion of free school meals.

Comes alongside wider effort to cut the cost of living for families through measures such as boosting the National Living Wage, taking £150 off energy bills and freezing rail fares.

Preet Kaur Gill MP said: "“As a former Children’s Services Manager, I have seen first hand what child poverty does to families - the stress, the impossible choices between heating and eating, and the impact that carries into the classroom.

Lifting the two child cap will make a real difference to families I represent in Edgbaston. It means more money in parents’ pockets for school uniforms, food on the table, and stability at home.

In Edgbaston alone, an estimated 4,030 children stand to benefit. That is 4,030 young lives with a better chance to focus on learning, to thrive, and to build secure futures.

This is about fairness. When we invest in our children, we invest in our country’s future, in the skills, talent and ambition that will drive our economy for decades to come.”