THE recent UNICEF study referred to in the Globe tells us that the UK child poverty rate has grown from 24% in 2008 to 25.6% in 2013.

This is a disgrace in a rich country.

However, it is important to accurately report what such reports say and do not say.

Although child poverty has fallen in 18 countries it has risen in 23 including the USA, Netherlands, Denmark, France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, etc. 

Secondly, the report implies that stagnating wages and benefit cuts fuel increasing child poverty but it provides no evidence for this. Other evidence does finger Coalition Government policies so Frank Field is correct to say so. However nowhere in the report are “chaotic parents” blamed for child poverty.

This is a long-held personal belief of Mr Field himself who distinguishes between the deserving and the feckless, undeserving poor.

The problem with this model is that now 65% of children in poverty are in working families.

At the bottom we have the 2% of families targetted by New Labour and the Coalition as “chaotic” or “troubled.”

These are families with multiple problems: intellectually limited, disabled and socially inadequate, not wicked or lacking in “responsibility” as the politicians tell us. 

They need help, not moralising and not punishment. 

Merry Christmas.

Professor D P Gregg by email.