ABSTRACT
There has been copious research evidence available for many years to demonstrate that children's life chances are directly affected by their living circumstances during childhood. In general terms, 'children from poor homes have lower life expectancy and are more likely to die in infancy or childhood; they have a greater likelihood of poor health, a lower chance of high educational attainment, a greater risk of unemployment.' (Holterman, 1995). It was therefore, of some concern to the poverty lobby that the New Labour government began its period in office in 1997 by implementing conservative legislation relating to social security inherited from the previous Conservative administration. It also committed itself to the previous government's public spending plans and reduced benefits for lone parents, 'arguably the first time since 1948 a government had cut a social assistance benefit' (Fimister, 2001, p.13).
