Catholics urge government to support families in Budget

1,300,000 children live in poverty in the UK

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales and the Catholic Union have urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to abolish the two-child limit on benefits as part of next month's Budget.

In a letter congratulating Mr Sunak on his recent appointment, Bishop Richard Moth, Chair of the Bishops' Conference Department for Social Justice and Nigel Parker, Director of the Catholic Union, urged the Chancellor to help more than half a million children by abolishing the two-child limit for Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit in his forthcoming budget, scheduled for next month. This move would help to fulfil the Government's manifesto promise to tackle child poverty through the tax and benefits system.

Bishop Moth and Mr Parker warned that: "Catholic charities across England and Wales have first-hand experience of how the limit can put essentials such as food, rent and utility bills beyond reach, with devastating consequences for children's wellbeing and life-chances."

Referencing Pope Francis' reminder that "poverty is not inevitable", they go on to state: "Abolishing the two-child limit will be both a tangible means of reducing child poverty in the UK and a clear sign of support for family life."

Catholic Union Head of Public Affairs, James Somerville-Meikle, commented: "If the Government is serious about helping families and levelling up society, then getting rid of the two-child benefit cap would be a good place to start. This deeply unfair policy leaves larger families worse off for no good reason. The new Chancellor has an opportunity to show he is listening on welfare spending and introduce a family-friendly budget later this month. It's time to give all families the support they need and scrap the cap."

The Budget is expected on March 11. An estimated 160,000 families have already been affected by the two-child limit to date. Charities estimate that as a result of this policy, 300,000 children will be pushed into poverty and one million children, already in poverty, will be pushed even deeper into poverty by 2023/24.

The full letter follows:

Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP
|Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ

24 February 2020

Dear Chancellor,

Congratulations on your recent appointment.

As Catholics, we were encouraged by your Government's manifesto promise to tackle child poverty through the tax and benefits system. Pope Francis reminded us last year that "poverty is not inevitable." Policies rooted in social justice can help the poorest children in our society to flourish and reach their true potential.

The forthcoming Budget presents an opportunity to help more than half a million of these children by abolishing the two-child limit for Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit.

As you know, the impacts of this policy are currently being felt by families from all walks of life. Most are in work and many fell upon hard times after having their children. It also affects refugee families given sanctuary in our country and has a disproportionate impact upon religious minorities.

What unites all these families is the hardship they have suffered as a result of not receiving basic support for each child. Catholic charities across England and Wales have first-hand experience of how the limit can put essentials such as food, rent and utility bills beyond reach, with devastating consequences for children's wellbeing and life-chances.

We believe that every child is of equal value and their human dignity deserves to be upheld. Abolishing the two-child limit will be both a tangible means of reducing child poverty in the UK and a clear sign of support for family life.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this letter and we look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, please be assured of our prayers and best wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Rt Rev Richard Moth,
Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, Chair, Catholic Bishops' Conference Department for Social Justice

Nigel Parker,
Director, Catholic Union
cc. Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP, Secretary of State for Work