Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2007

Providing a comprehensive analysis of trends and differences between groups, this report examines the progress being made on reducing poverty and social exclusion, in light of the Government's ambitious target to halve child poverty by 2010.

A major theme for this year’s report is differences by gender. The wide-ranging and thorough analysis also covers:

• low income;
• work;
• education;
• health;
• housing;
• disadvantaged children; and
• exclusion from services.

Some of the key findings are that:

• Half of children in poverty are still in working families.
• Overall poverty levels in 2006 were the same as in 2002.
• Child poverty in 2006 was still 500,000 higher than the target set for 2005.
• Overall earnings inequalities are widening.
• Disability rather than lone parenthood is the factor most likely to lead to worklessness.