UNITED KINGDOM: Human rights committee to scrutinise Child Poverty Bill

UK MPs and peers are to scrutinise the Child Poverty Bill's controversial "get out clause" to ensure that it is compatible with human rights laws

The Joint Committee for Human Rights has written to the government seeking an explanation of clause 15 of the Bill, which allows the government to take the condition of the economy into account before implementing child poverty strategies.

The committee has also asked the government what is being done to gain more information on gypsy, Roma and traveller children, as well as asylum seeking children, who are all excluded from the targets despite being some of the poorest groups in the UK.

According to the committee, the bill will provide a mechanism for meeting the requirements of Article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which ensure an adequate standard of living for every child.

Children's charity UNICEF is calling for the bill to change its definition of children from 16 and under to 18 and under, in accordance with the UN convention.

The Joint Committee is seeking input on issues related to the bill and is calling for any questions to accompany its own to be submitted by 30 September.

Submissions should be addressed to Dr Mark Egan, Commons Clerk of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Committee Office, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA (email: jchr@parliament.uk)

For more information about the progress of the Bill, visit the Houses of Parliament web site