UK lags behind other rich countries on child inequality
BBC News | Hannah Richardson – education and social affairs reporter
The UK is lagging behind other rich countries on reducing inequalities between rich and poor children, a Unicef report says.
The UN body set up to promote the rights and wellbeing of children highlights “concerning gaps in health, education, and income”.
The lack of progress means ambitions to eradicate child poverty are unlikely to be realised in coming years, it adds.
The government said there were 300,000 fewer children in poverty since 2010.
The gap between rich and poor had narrowed in the UK in recent years, largely because the income of the poorest families had fallen more slowly than that of the average household, Unicef said in its Report Card 13 report.
But Unicef added that were it not for benefits, the income gap in Britain would be among the greatest in Europe.
One area of concern was the difference in the UK between wealthier and poorer children’s performance in reading, maths and science.
Overall, British pupils were ranked 25th out of 37 countries, behind their counterparts in Slovenia, Poland and Romania.
Another key area of concern was the disparity in healthy behaviours, predominantly consumption of fruit and vegetables, among children of different social backgrounds.
‘Benefits freeze’
The UK was ranked bottom for the contrast in healthy eating between well-off and poorer children. It also did badly on measures of physical activity,
Unicef UK’s deputy executive director, Lily Caprani, said: “Britain can and must do better. Inequality between children is damaging their lives and aspirations.
“Taking children’s rights seriously means acting with urgency to make sure no child is left behind.
“The UK government should adopt, as a matter of urgency, a childhood obesity strategy that promotes and supports healthy lifestyles for low-income children.
