THE cost of child poverty to councils in Liverpool City Region is nearly £1bn every year, according to a new survey by a campaigning charity.

The figure of £968m equates to £10,856 for every child in Wirral, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens and Sefton.

The staggering sum is revealed in a report by the Child Poverty Action Group estimating the cost to every local authority and parliamentary constituency in the UK.

The figure was derived by adding up the costs of housing benefits, tax credits and free school meals for children living in poverty.

Also, children in low-income families are less likely to be healthy, meaning there is a cost to the NHS.

Birkenhead MP Frank Field, chairman of the region’s Child Poverty and Life Chances Commission, says the costs can only spiral.

Independent forecasters, such as the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies, predict the number of children and young living in poverty is set to increase due to changes to the tax and benefit systems.

Mr Field said: “There are huge costs, both human and financial, to child poverty. I am proud to chair a group which is committed to helping every child have the best possible start.

“It’s not enough to just support each child, we need to help raise family incomes, too.

"This dual focus must be maintained if we are to avoid the pernicious impacts of poverty.”

Mr Field pointed out that some areas of the region have recently experienced a 120% leap in the number of families attending food banks.

Statistics for Wirral have shown rocketing numbers attending the borough's food bank.

In a 12-month period up to May this year, more than 9,000 people used the food bank - 3,297 children and 5,995 adults.

Data for the previous year showed only 478 youngsters and just 751 adults needed help from the Birkenhead-based facility.

Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said “In Liverpool City Region, the current extent of child poverty costs £968m every year and a large part of this cost lands on council services.

“It is encouraging to see the strong local child poverty strategy so children growing up [here] have a better future, and so we avoid having to spend on failure and can invest everyone’s council tax contributions in more positive ways.”

The report “Local Authorities and Child Poverty – balancing threats with opportunities” was published today.