What measurable outcomes does the Welsh Government use to assess its progress in tackling poverty?
Key levers for tackling poverty, powers over the tax and welfare systems, sit with the UK Government. The Department for Work and Pensions produces Households Below Average Income data annually using the relative income poverty measure. This includes data for people of working age, children and pensioners.
The Welsh Government has a statutory duty to tackle child poverty and we use the relative measure of child poverty – the percentage of children living in households below 60% of the median UK household income (After Housing Costs) – to help measure levels of child poverty in Wales.
The Welsh Government also uses a set of indicators for measuring progress towards achieving its child poverty objectives. These reflect the levers available. They are:
- % of children living in relative income poverty (After Housing Costs).
- % of children living in relative income poverty where at least one adult is working (After Housing Costs).
- % of children living in workless households.
- % of working age adults with no qualifications.
- % of working age adults holding qualifications at levels 2, 3 or 4 and above.
- % of children living in low income households who are reaching health, social and cognitive development milestones when entering formal education.
- % of 7 year old pupils eligible for Free School Meals achieving the expected level at the end of the Foundation Phase.
- % of pupils eligible for Free Schools Meals who achieve the Level 2 threshold including English / Welsh and Maths at Key Stage 4.
- % of young people aged 16-18 who are not in employment education or training (NEET).
- % of young people aged 19-24 who are not in employment education or training (NEET).
- % of babies (live births) born with a low birth weight (defined as under 2,500 grams).