Overview

This bill proposes the creation of a new UK government Ministry for Poverty Prevention. The Ministry would be responsible for setting and monitoring poverty reduction targets, overseeing government spending related to poverty, and generally coordinating efforts to tackle poverty in England and Wales.

Description

The bill mandates the Prime Minister to establish the Ministry for Poverty Prevention within six months of the bill's passing. The Ministry's objectives and reporting requirements will be defined in an Order in Council. Crucially, abolishing or merging the Ministry would require a separate Act of Parliament, ensuring its long-term existence.

Poverty Reduction Targets

The Secretary of State for the Ministry will set binding poverty reduction targets, reviewed and updated annually. These targets, including timeframes and assessment metrics, must be approved by both Houses of Parliament before becoming law.

Reporting Requirements

Annual reports on the government's progress towards meeting the poverty reduction targets will be presented to Parliament. Additionally, the bill introduces the Preventative, Emergency, Coping and Cure (PECC) reporting system to increase transparency in all government spending related to poverty, categorizing expenditure into four key areas.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly allocate new funding. Instead, it aims to improve the transparency and accountability of existing government spending on poverty reduction by implementing the PECC reporting system. The exact financial implications will depend on the future implementation of the poverty reduction targets and the specific details of the PECC system.

Groups Affected

This bill will affect numerous groups. The most direct impact will be on:

• The Prime Minister's Office: Responsible for establishing the Ministry.
• Government Departments: Will need to adapt to the new reporting requirements for poverty-related spending under the PECC system.
• Parliament: Involved in approving the poverty reduction targets and reviewing progress reports.
• People living in poverty in England and Wales: Potentially benefit from more effective and targeted government policies resulting from the enhanced focus and coordination of anti-poverty efforts.

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