Mind the gap

How poor is poor? A new research report from the Department of Work and Pensions looks at how child poverty is measured in the UK, under the Child Poverty Act and the National Child Poverty Strategy and considers how to measure depth of poverty (the poverty gap). Meanwhile, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's measure, the Minimum Income Standard, living costs have risen by 5% on last year, with the greatest burden on families with children, who would need to earn at least 20% more (before tax and benefits) to meet this Minimum Income Standard.